Boeing Dreamliner goes down after takeoff, and rescue efforts are under way.
12 JUNE,2025
Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025 – In one of the darkest days in Indian aviation history, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff, leaving a devastating trail of destruction in the heart of the city.
The aircraft, carrying 241 people, lost altitude within minutes of departure and crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel in the densely populated Meghani Nagar area, approximately 2 kilometers from the airport. The impact triggered a massive explosion, setting buildings ablaze and scattering wreckage across the college compound.
🔥 A City in Shock
Eyewitnesses reported a deafening blast and thick smoke engulfing the area. Students and medical staff were caught off-guard, with at least 29 fatalities on the ground, including four MBBS students and family members of hospital employees. Rescue workers raced against time, pulling victims from rubble and battling intense fires with over 700,000 litres of water.
👤 One Man Survived
Miraculously, only one passenger survived—an Indian man, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, seated near an emergency exit. In shock but stable, he is the sole witness from inside the plane who may hold clues to what happened in those final moments.
⚠️ Mechanical Failure Suspected
The pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, issued a distress “Mayday” call less than one minute into the flight. Preliminary investigations are focusing on possible engine thrust failure, flap malfunction, or other technical anomalies. Both black boxes have been recovered and are being analyzed by India’s AAIB with assistance from Boeing, GE Aerospace, and international teams from the UK and US.
🏥 Grief and Aftermath
Hospitals remain overwhelmed. DNA testing is underway to identify severely burned victims. Authorities have described the identification process as “painstaking,” with multiple families awaiting confirmation of missing loved ones.
🕯️ National Mourning
The Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with world leaders including the UK Prime Minister and King Charles III, expressed deep condolences. Air India’s parent company, Tata Group, has launched a crisis response team and announced compensation for the victims’ families.
📌 Summary:
- Flight: Air India AI-171 (Boeing 787)
- From/To: Ahmedabad → London Gatwick
- Crash Site: BJ Medical College hostel
- Fatalities: 270+ (confirmed)
- Survivor: 1
- Black Box: Recovered
- Investigation: Ongoing (India, UK, Boeing, GE involved)
Firefighters douse the wreckage of the plane, which would have been fully loaded with fuel shortly after takeoff.
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