vesud AHMEDABAD, India June 6, 2025 A catastrophic aviation tragedy unfolded Thursday when Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London, crashed seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 241 people. The lone survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, miraculously escaped the wreckage with minor injuries, leaving the world stunned.
The aircraft, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, plummeted into a densely populated medical complex shortly after departing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:39 local time. Among the deceased are citizens from India, the UK, Portugal, and Canada, as well as multiple individuals on the ground.
One Man Walks Away From Wreckage as Others Perish
Ramesh, who was seated in 11A, was seen limping away from the burning crash site, captured in widely shared footage surrounded by smoke and debris. He later told reporters from his hospital bed, “Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise… it all happened so quickly.”
His brother, also named Ajay, was onboard and remains missing. “I don’t know how I survived or how I got out,” Ramesh reportedly told his family. His survival has been described by relatives as a “miracle in the midst of horror.”
Aircraft Slams Into Medical Campus, Casualties on the Ground
The Dreamliner crashed into the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College and Civil Hospital complex, striking a student hostel and the staff mess hall. According to Dr. Meenkashi Parekh, the hospital’s dean, the plane crashed during lunchtime when dozens of medical students were inside the canteen.
“Many managed to escape, but the fire and smoke trapped at least 10 to 12 students,” she said. Officials later confirmed that several students and staff were hospitalized with burn injuries, and more fatalities on the ground are feared.
Photos from the site show sections of the fuselage embedded into buildings, abandoned trays of uneaten food, and scattered personal belongings including passports.
Global Response and Official Reactions
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow on X (formerly Twitter):
“The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words.”
Governments around the world reacted swiftly. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that a British response team had been deployed to Gujarat and urged affected families to contact the Foreign Office. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and King Charles III also offered condolences, with the King expressing his “deepest sympathies to all those affected.”
Investigation Underway as Boeing Offers Support
This is the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its commercial debut in 2011. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced it would dispatch a team to assist India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
Boeing issued a statement saying,
“We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders, and all affected.”
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft issued a mayday call within seconds of takeoff before losing contact with air traffic control. The cause of the crash remains unknown, though investigators are focusing on flight data recorders and cockpit voice recordings.
Nation in Mourning as Rescue Operations Continue
Local authorities have recovered 204 bodies from the crash site so far. The full death toll remains uncertain as emergency responders continue to search the debris. Rescue workers described “scenes of utter devastation” with smoldering buildings and a wide crash zone.
Thick black smoke rose above the site for hours after the impact, and multiple surrounding structures were damaged. Witnesses described hearing a loud explosion and seeing fire engulf the area immediately after the crash.
In response to the tragedy, the Tata Group, which owns Air India, has pledged financial support of ₹1 crore (approx. £86,000) for the families of each deceased passenger.
A Nation’s Worst Air Disaster in Recent Memory
Thursday’s crash is now considered India’s deadliest aviation accident in modern history, surpassing the 2020 Kozhikode runway tragedy. The sheer scale of loss, the destruction on the ground, and the shock of a sole survivor have cast a heavy pall over the nation.
Flags in Gujarat and across the country are flying at half-mast, and a national day of mourning is being considered. As investigations intensify and families grieve, the world watches and mourns alongside India.
