Tragic Accident Overview
On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, crashed just after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, bound for London Gatwick. The aircraft carried 242 people—230 passengers and 12 crew—according to the official flight manifest
Eyewitnesses and security footage captured the plane climbing to around 625 feet, issuing a “mayday” distress call, collapsing in altitude, and bursting into flames as it impacted the Meghani Nagar residential area, striking a block of B.J. Medical College, including its hostel and dining hall
Casualties and Survivor
Rescue operations recovered 204 bodies from the scene, including both pilots and medical students in the hostel. An additional toll of ground casualties included at least five students killed in the dining hall and 41 people injured nearby
Remarkably, one passenger, British‑Indian national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, seated in 11A, survived with minor injuries. He was found walking among debris and later hospitalized
Flight Manifest and Nationalities
The passenger list included 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian
Immediate Response
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed the mayday call and subsequent loss of contact shortly after departure from Runway 23 Emergency crews—comprising fire fighters, paramedics, police, and the Indian Army—rapidly descended on the scene to stabilize wreckage and aid survivors
Indian PM Narendra Modi, along with UK, US, French, and Australian leaders, expressed condolences. The UK Foreign Office activated crisis teams in Delhi and London, coordinating support for citizens affected
Air India’s parent, Tata Sons, committed to compensating victims’ families and covering medical and support costs for the injured
Aircraft & Industry Implications
This marks the first fatal hull loss involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its 2009 entry into service The aircraft, tail number VT‑ANB, was destroyed on impact
The incident has triggered heightened scrutiny on Boeing. Industry analysts suggest it could impact future Boeing aircraft orders from airlines, including India’s Air India
Ongoing Investigations
Investigators from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, along with teams from the UK AAIB and US NTSB, have secured flight recorders and launched inquiries into the crash’s technical causes
No definitive cause has been announced, though airlines emphasize that most accidents during takeoff and landing stem from mechanical, pilot, or weather factors. However, weather on that day was reportedly stable
Historical Context & Aviation Safety
Per aviation databases and Wikipedia, Air India 171 is ranked as 2025’s deadliest air disaster and the worst involving the Dreamliner
. For comparison, India’s previous worst crash was the 1996 Charkhi Dadri mid‑air collision, which claimed 349 lives.
Notably, while the Dreamliner had never before experienced a fatal crash, earlier Indian incidents—like Air India Flight 855 in 1978 (747 crash) and Air India Express Flight 1344 in 2020 (Boeing 737 overrun)—underlined ongoing safety challenges
Summary
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Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787 with 242 on board, crashed minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025.
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204 onboard and multiple ground victims, including medical students, died; one passenger survived.
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Emergency teams responded swiftly; Air India and international leaders mobilized aid.
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The crash—first fatal involving a 787—has raised concerns for Boeing and spurred a major investigation.
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Broader context: it’s 2025’s deadliest airline disaster and among India’s most catastrophic.
