कृपया इसे हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहाँ क्लिक करें
On June 12, 2025, at approximately 1:38 p.m. IST, Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787–8 Dreamliner (tail VT‑ANB), departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad, en route to London Gatwick. Just 30 seconds into the flight—climbing at barely 650 ft—the aircraft lost altitude, issued a Mayday call, and plummeted into the hostel block of B. J. Medical College, around 3 km from the runway.
Casualties & Damage
- On board: Of the 242 aboard (230 passengers and 12 crew), 241 tragically lost their lives.
- On the ground: At least 28 people in the hostel and surrounding quarters also perished, with 60 injured, including resident doctors and staff.
- Total fatalities: 269 confirmed dead.
The Miracle Survivor
Viswashhkumar (Vishwash) Ramesh, a 40‑year‑old British‑Indian seated in 11A near an exit, is the sole survivor. He escaped with serious injuries but remains in stable condition. He later said:
“For a moment, I felt like I was going to die too… I thought I could come out… and I did”.
Who Was on Board?
- Passengers: 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian.
- Crew: Captain Sumeet Sabharwal (8,200 flight hours), First Officer Clive Kunder, and 10 cabin staff, including two women from Manipur.
- Notable passenger: Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, en route to London to join family.
A heart-wrenching close-call story emerged: Bhoomi Chauhan missed the flight by 10 minutes—an unexpected traffic delay that likely saved her life.
Eyewitness Reports & Rescue Efforts
- Disturbing video and witness accounts depict the jet dipping, followed by an explosion, dense smoke, and debris scattering through the hostel area. Some residents narrowly escaped, jumping from windows.
- Emergency responders from NDRF, IAF, BSF, NSG, with around 65 fire engines and 50 ambulances, tackled raging fires and recovered victims. Sniffer dogs and forensic teams are actively working the chaotic scene.
What Comes Next? The Investigation
- The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with assistance from India’s DGCA, the UK AAIB, and the US NTSB, is probing the crash.
- Investigators have retrieved both black boxes—the flight data and cockpit voice recorders—as well as a digital video recorder from the crash site.
- Initial indicators point to a technical malfunction shortly after takeoff, but precise causes are yet to be confirmed.
Wider Effects & International Concerns
- The grounding of Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet is under serious consideration until safety clearances are received.
- The crash is the first fatal accident involving a 787, which raises questions over Boeing’s safety protocols—especially in light of past 737 MAX incidents.
Reactions & Condolences
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gujarat’s Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and Home Minister Amit Shah visited the site. PM Modi described the disaster as “heartbreaking beyond words”.
- Global leaders expressed solidarity—including King Charles III, PM Keir Starmer, and others.
- The Tata Group, now in control of Air India, pledged full compensation and support for victims’ families.
- Boeing expressed condolences and committed full cooperation with investigators.
A Brief Backstory
- This is India’s worst single‑aircraft disaster since the mid‑air collision at Charkhi Dadri in 1996 (349 fatalities), and the first major air crash since the Air India Express Kozhikode accident in 2020.
- Ahmedabad previously saw a deadly accident in 1988 (Indian Airlines Flight 113), which killed 133 people on final approach.
A Humble, Human Touch
In the midst of tragedy, there are moments of humanity:
- Bhoomi’s delay acted as fate’s gentle reminder.
- A doctor on the ground paused his lunch, saving many lives.
- Rescue workers said it was “a miracle” that anyone survived.
These small threads of hope strengthen community resolve amid sorrow.
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