On Thursday, June 12, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (Flight AI171) bound for London's Gatwick airport tragically crashed minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Here's everything we know so far:
The Incident:
- The aircraft, an 11-year-old Boeing 787 Dreamliner, departed Ahmedabad around 1:38 PM local time.
- Shortly after takeoff, the pilots issued a "Mayday" distress call to Air Traffic Control, indicating a full emergency.
- The plane lost altitude and crashed into the residential quarters of the BJ Medical College in the Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad, before bursting into flames.
- Video footage shows the plane flying low over buildings before disappearing and a large explosion occurring.
- The plane reached a maximum altitude of only 425 to 625 feet before plummeting.
Casualties and Survivors:
- Out of 242 people on board (230 passengers, 10 crew members, and two pilots), 241 have been confirmed dead. This includes both pilots and all crew members.
- Only one passenger, a British national named Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, miraculously survived the crash and is currently being treated in a hospital.
- The crash also caused fatalities and injuries on the ground, with the tail end of the aircraft hitting the hostel mess at BJ Medical College, killing at least five medical students and injuring nearly 50 others. The total death toll, including ground casualties, is reported to be at least 265.
- Among the deceased passengers was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
- The flight manifest included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national.
Investigation and Cause:
- The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a full-scale international investigation into the crash.
- The plane's black box (Digital Flight Data Recorder) was recovered from the rooftop of a building near the crash site, which is crucial for understanding the final moments of the flight.
- The cause of the crash is still unclear. Initial observations and expert analyses suggest potential issues such as:
- Lack of sufficient thrust from both engines.
- Possible misconfiguration of the plane before takeoff or erroneous weight data entry.
- The landing gear remained down throughout the visible flight, which is unusual.
- A bird hit is also being considered as a possible factor, which could have led to a loss of power or system indications.
- The Boeing 787 Dreamliner had an exemplary safety record since its commercial debut in 2011, and this is the first fatal accident involving the model.
Aftermath and Response:
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and met with the sole survivor in the hospital.
- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated enhanced safety inspections for Air India's entire Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliner fleet equipped with GenX engines. These checks include fuel parameter monitoring, cabin air compressor inspection, electronic engine control system tests, engine fuel driven actuator operational tests, hydraulic system serviceability checks, and a review of take-off parameters.
- The Indian government is also considering grounding the entire Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 fleet for a safety review.
- Air India and the Tata Group (owners of Air India) have expressed their deepest condolences, set up dedicated hotlines for passengers' families, and pledged to provide support, including a compensation of ₹1 crore (nearly $116,795) to the families of each person who lost their life.
- DNA testing is underway to identify the victims.
- Emergency services, including NDRF teams, firefighters, and medical personnel, were quickly mobilized for rescue and recovery operations.
This is an ongoing investigation, and a more definitive cause of the crash will be determined once the black box data and other evidence are thoroughly analyzed.
All You Need to Know About Air India Crash in Ahmedabad! Most HEARTBREAKING News, Boeing 787
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