A devastating air tragedy unfolded in Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday when an Air India Dreamliner en route to London crashed into a residential neighborhood just minutes after takeoff. Of the 242 people on board, only one has survived.
Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, departed at 1:38 p.m. local time and was headed for London’s Gatwick Airport. Within five minutes, it plunged into the Meghani Nagar area, leveling a section of the city and igniting a fireball that stunned onlookers and emergency responders alike.
Only One Survivor Found Among the Wreckage
Against overwhelming odds, a single passenger has emerged alive from the wreckage. Identified as Ramesh Viswashkumar, a British national of Indian origin, the survivor had been seated in 11A near an emergency exit. He spoke to the Hindustan Times about the moments leading up to impact.
“Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed,” he told the outlet. “It all happened so quickly.”
Viswashkumar was flying with his brother, who did not survive. Covered in injuries but able to walk, he later FaceTimed relatives in London from a hospital bed. “When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me,” he told Reuters. “Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital.”
The Hindustan Times confirmed his identity with an image of his boarding pass bearing seat number 11A and a departure stamp from Ahmedabad.
Confirmed Toll: 241 Aboard, Dozens on the Ground
Despite earlier confusion, Air India has confirmed that of the 242 passengers and crew, 241 were killed. That figure includes nationals from India (169), the UK (53), Portugal (7), and Canada (1). The only survivor is the aforementioned British national.
Tragically, the plane also struck a doctors’ hostel affiliated with BJ Medical College, where students and staff were gathered for lunch. Local authorities have verified that at least 50 people on the ground were also killed.
“Approximately 294 have died,” said police officer Vidhi Chaudhary.
“This includes some students as the plane crashed on the building where they were staying.”
A Mayday Call and a Plummeting Descent
Just moments before the crash, the pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal an experienced flyer with over 8,200 flight hours, issued a frantic mayday call. “Mayday… no thrust, losing power, unable to lift,” he radioed as the plane struggled to stay airborne. His co-pilot, Clive Kunder, had logged 1,100 hours.
The aircraft was reportedly just 400 feet above ground when both engines failed. Social media footage showed the plane descending slowly, its nose unnaturally tilted upwards, before erupting into flames on impact.
The aircraft, delivered in 2013, was 12 years old and had 230 passengers and 12 crew members on board.
Air India Responds with Grief and Urgency
“We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities,” the airline said in a somber statement. “The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital.”
Air India also confirmed that a team of caregivers had been dispatched to Ahmedabad to assist victims’ families. “Air India offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased,” the statement added. “Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected, their families and loved ones.”
Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran also expressed condolences on social media. “With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today,” he posted on X. “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event.”
India and the World React
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation’s grief: “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also responded: “The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating.”
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu assured the public that rescue operations were in full swing. “We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation,” he said on X.
Investigators Probe Possible Engine or Flap Failure
Investigators are examining two leading theories behind the disaster: a dual-engine bird strike or a malfunction of the wing flaps, which may not have deployed properly. Experts noted the aircraft’s abnormal nose-high descent and extended landing gear in the final moments.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acknowledged the crash and confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was standing by to assist if requested. “We stand ready to launch a team immediately in coordination with the NTSB,” the agency stated.
A Dark Day for Indian Aviation
This crash marks the deadliest air disaster on Indian soil since 1996, when a midair collision near Charki Dadri killed 349 people. While Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner has been in service since 2009 with over 1,000 delivered globally, this is the first fatal crash involving the model, according to the Aviation Safety Network.
Boeing said in a statement: “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.”
As fire crews continued clearing debris from the ruined neighborhood, the black box and cockpit voice recorder were recovered and sent for analysis.
