A tragic air disaster has struck India with the crash of Air India flight AI171 shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, resulting in the deaths of 241 of the 242 people on board. The sole survivor is a 40-year-old British national, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who sustained only minor injuries.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, bound for London, crashed in a massive fireball just minutes after departing from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on 12 June. The aircraft plummeted into a residential area of Meghani Nagar, not far from B.J. Medical College, erupting into flames and devastating nearby buildings. Emergency crews responded immediately, working through the wreckage to recover bodies and assist those on the ground.
Ramesh, who was seated in 11A by an emergency exit, described hearing a loud bang just 30 seconds after take-off before the plane began its deadly descent. “It all happened so quickly,” he said.
Breakdown of nationalities and official responses
There were 242 people on board, including 12 crew members. Among the passengers were 169 Indian citizens, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. Initial reports of 294 fatalities were revised down after it was confirmed that early figures had included some duplicate counts of remains.
Officials from both India and the UK have expressed deep condolences, with crisis centres activated in both countries to assist families. The British Foreign Office has advised concerned relatives to call 020 7008 5000, while Air India has set up a support line within India on 1800 5691 444.
Investigations underway
Authorities have launched a full investigation, with the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder already recovered. Indian aviation officials are working alongside international investigators to determine the cause of the crash, which occurred in clear weather and without any prior distress signal from the cockpit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the crash a “devastating national tragedy”, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his thoughts were with the victims and their families, praising the courage of the lone survivor.
The incident marks one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent Indian history and raises urgent questions about aircraft safety, infrastructure and oversight in the region.
