By Chetna Gill
 |
| Cover Image Attribute: Aircraft tail section at the crash site of Air India flight 171 on June 12 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. |
On June 12, 2025, the skies above Ahmedabad, India, bore witness to a catastrophe that would etch itself into the annals of aviation history. Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed mere moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, claiming at least 270 lives and leaving a sole survivor amidst the wreckage. The disaster, one of the deadliest in recent memory, has prompted a rigorous investigation, raised questions about aviation safety, and cast a somber shadow over a grieving nation. As investigators sift through debris and data, the story of Flight 171 unfolds as a complex tapestry of human loss, technical scrutiny, and a search for answers that may reshape India’s aviation landscape.
The flight took off at 1:38 p.m. local time, carrying 242 passengers and crew members. According to Flightradar24, the plane utilized the full length of the 11,499-foot Runway 23, a detail that has drawn attention as investigators probe the circumstances of the crash. Within 33 seconds of wheels-up, the aircraft issued a mayday call, as reported by Reuters, signaling distress to air traffic control. The plane, struggling to gain altitude, careened into a medical college hostel and canteen at the BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital, erupting into a fireball that killed 241 of those on board and at least 29 people on the ground. The lone survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national of Indian origin seated in 11A, emerged from the burning rubble in what has been described as a miracle. “Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed,” Ramesh recounted, as reported by CNN. His survival, attributed to his position near an emergency exit that broke open after the plane’s side fell onto a building’s ground floor, stands as a singular beacon of hope amid overwhelming tragedy. Video footage circulating on social media, reported by Newsweek, showed him walking away from the wreckage in a bloodstained shirt, speaking on the phone, his account to ABC News, “I thought I would die,” highlighting the improbability of his escape.
The crash site, a residential area near the airport, presented a harrowing scene. Reuters described piles of debris scattered inside the medical college hostel, with large holes in walls and shattered windows. The tail of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was found lodged in a building, a stark image of the disaster’s violence. Dr. Dhaval Gameti, a doctor at Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital, reported to The Associated Press that 270 bodies, many charred or mutilated, were received, laying bare the crash’s devastating toll. The identification process, reliant on DNA matching and dental samples, has been painstaking, with over 90 victims identified by June 16, according to Dr. Rajnish Patel of the Civil Hospital. The scale of the loss—passengers, crew, and bystanders, including five medical students, a 15-year-old boy, and a grandmother with her toddler—has left Ahmedabad and the global community in mourning.
Investigators have recovered both black boxes—the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder—critical tools for unraveling the crash’s cause. The flight data recorder, retrieved from a rooftop at the crash site, logs parameters like altitude, speed, and engine performance, while the cockpit voice recorder, found on June 13, captures pilot conversations and cockpit sounds. These devices, as noted by the BBC, are expected to shed light on whether the crash resulted from mechanical failure, human error, or other factors. Early evidence points to an “extremely rare” dual engine failure, according to a U.S. aviation expert cited by LiveMint. John Guzzetti, a former investigator with the US Federal Aviation Administration, highlighted the improbability of such an event, noting that “modern jet engines are incredibly reliable.” He suggested that issues with the high-lift system, such as flaps or slats, could have prevented the plane from achieving sufficient lift, particularly under Ahmedabad’s high temperatures of about 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which reduce engine thrust and lift capacity.
The investigation, led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau with assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, is examining multiple angles. Reuters reported that the probe is focusing on the plane’s engines, flaps, and landing gear, which CCTV footage showed remained down after takeoff—an unusual occurrence, according to pilots cited by CNBC. A 59-second CCTV clip, described by Reuters as a key piece of evidence, captures the plane’s brief flight and crash, showing it losing height almost immediately. Speculation about the pilots’ actions has also surfaced. An X post by
@Callsign_Ciphar suggested the pilot attempted a forced takeoff without extending the flaps, leading to a stall, though this claim remains unverified. Neil Hansford, a former pilot quoted by The Guardian, urged investigators to consider sabotage given political tensions in Gujarat, though no evidence currently supports this theory.
The crash has prompted swift regulatory action. India’s aviation ministry, as reported by Reuters, ordered additional maintenance checks on Air India’s Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft equipped with GEnx engines, including a “one-time check” of takeoff parameters before every flight starting June 15. The ministry also mandated inspections of all Boeing 787s operated by Indian carriers, reflecting heightened concerns about the Dreamliner’s safety. This was the first fatal crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in its 16-year operational history, as noted by Al Jazeera, amplifying scrutiny on Boeing. Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, met with Air India’s chairman on June 16 to discuss the incident, though details of their conversation remain undisclosed.
The human cost of the tragedy extends beyond the crash site. Families, like that of First Officer Kunder, whose parents rushed from Australia to Ahmedabad, have been left in anguish, waiting for the release of loved ones’ remains. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and met with survivor Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, whose brother Ajay, seated in 11J, did not survive. “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us,” Modi stated on social media, echoing the sentiments of a nation. The crash’s impact on the local community is profound, with stories of loss—like Dabu Patni, who mourned her brother Akash, and Kalpesh Bhai, whose 14-year-old brother perished—highlighting the ripple effects of the disaster.
The investigation’s complexity is compounded by the crash’s unprecedented nature. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with approximately 1,200 aircraft in operation worldwide, has been lauded for its reliability. Yet, the crash has reignited concerns about Boeing’s safety record, already strained by issues with other aircraft models. The company issued a statement, reported by Al Jazeera, expressing readiness to support Air India, but public confidence in the Dreamliner may waver as investigators probe potential mechanical failures. The high temperatures in Ahmedabad, noted by CNBC, could have exacerbated engine performance issues, though experts emphasize that modern jet engines are designed to withstand such conditions.
As the investigation continues, questions linger about Air India’s maintenance practices and the broader implications for India’s aviation sector. The Guardian reported that the airline’s maintenance regime is under scrutiny, with investigators examining maintenance records, pilot training, and rest schedules. The pilots, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Kunder, had little time to react, as officials told The New York Times: “The pilots had virtually no time to regain control of the plane as it began going down.” Their final moments, captured in the cockpit voice recorder, are expected to provide critical insights, though the emotional weight of their loss—one a retiring veteran, the other a young pilot at the start of his career—resonates deeply.
The crash has also highlighted the global connections of Ahmedabad, a hub for the Gujarati diaspora. The Ahmedabad-London route, popular among the large Gujarati community in Britain, clearly depicts the international scope of the tragedy. Air India’s statement, quoted by ABC News, expressed “deepest condolences to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171, as well as everyone affected in Ahmedabad.” The airline faces a pivotal moment, balancing operational continuity with public demands for accountability.
The Air India Flight 171 crash is a stark reminder of aviation’s inherent risks, even in an era of advanced technology. As investigators analyze the black boxes and CCTV footage, the nation mourns and the world watches. The findings, expected to take months, will shape the future of air travel in India and beyond. For now, Ahmedabad contends with its grief, honoring the memory of the lost while cherishing the miracle of one survivor. The story of Flight 171 is not just a tale of loss but a call for answers, resilience, and a renewed commitment to safety in the skies.
With reporting by Al Jazeera, AP News, BBC, CNBC, FlightRadar24, Livemint, and Reuters.
Apple News, Google News, Feedly, Flipboard, and WhatsApp Channel
