Nightmare in Ahmedabad: Air India Flight AI171 Plummets Minutes After Takeoff
Moments after takeoff, what should've been a routine London-bound journey turned into chaos. Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, Flight AI171, lifted off from Ahmedabad Airport on June 12, 2025 at 1:38 p.m. local time. It never got far. In less than a minute, the plane lost control and slammed into a nearby residential area, killing 241 people, including passengers and crew. Shockwaves rippled through two continents as families anxiously waited for news.
This was not just another headline. The crash site—alarmingly close to a medical college—became a grim tableau. Mangled wreckage littered the ground, smoke billowed over rooftops, and emergency sirens filled the air. It wasn’t just those onboard who were in danger. Residents on the ground fell victim too, with reports of building collapses and fires. Although authorities haven’t given a clear count for ground casualties, the devastation left little doubt about the seriousness of the disaster.
A Lone Survivor’s Ordeal: 30 Seconds to Catastrophe
Incredibly, there was one survivor: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British citizen from Leicester. Ramesh, sitting in seat 11A, told doctors that about 30 seconds after takeoff, he heard a massive bang echo through the cabin. Before he could comprehend what was happening, the aircraft began to rapidly lose altitude. The world turned upside down in seconds. Ramesh is still hospitalized, recovering from serious injuries, while trying to process the trauma.
The extent of loss stretches far beyond India’s borders. The flight manifest lists 169 Indian nationals and 53 British citizens among the victims. There was also one Canadian and seven Portuguese passengers who never made it out of Ahmedabad. News spread rapidly, with families in multiple countries scrambling for answers and support. Those in India have been directed to Air India’s special hotline, while relatives abroad have connected with the British Foreign Office for more information.
The aircraft’s black boxes—both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder—were quickly retrieved from the scene. Investigators hope these will provide clear answers about what caused the sudden and catastrophic failure. Early speculation points to a possible technical issue rather than foul play. However, with anti-terrorism units joining the probe, no theory is being ruled out just yet. Authorities are not taking any risks, even hinting at temporarily grounding all of Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet until investigators learn more.
- The plane crashed into a crowded neighborhood close to a teaching hospital.
- Several buildings suffered severe damage, sparking fires and further complicating rescue work.
- The exact number of casualties on the ground is still unclear.
- Emergency responders worked through wreckage and burning buildings, rescuing survivors and containing fires.
The aftermath has rattled communities in India and far beyond. Families are left with more questions than answers. Major airlines and the aviation world are closely watching, waiting for details from the recovered black boxes. As the investigation moves forward, the eyes of the world remain fixed on Ahmedabad, hoping for clarity and maybe—just maybe—some lessons that can avert the next tragedy in the sky.
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