AHMEDABAD, INDIA – A catastrophic Air India flight bound for London crashed moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, killing 241 people onboard in one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in decades. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, Flight AI171, plunged into a residential area, including a doctors’ hostel, sparking a massive fireball and extending the devastation to the ground.
Air India confirmed late Thursday that of the 242 individuals on board – comprising 230 passengers and 12 crew members – there was only one survivor. That sole survivor has been identified as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national, who is currently being treated for multiple injuries at Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital. Ramesh reportedly told local media he heard a “loud noise” approximately 30 seconds after takeoff before the aircraft went down.
The disaster unfolded rapidly. The 12-year-old Dreamliner departed Ahmedabad at 1:38 PM local time (08:08 GMT), but failed to gain sufficient altitude, with CCTV footage reportedly showing its fatal 30-second flight from the runway before it descended. The aircraft then crashed into the Meghani Nagar area, a densely populated neighborhood, impacting the hostel of B.J. Medical College and sparking a fierce blaze fueled by the plane’s heavy load of aviation fuel.
Rescue efforts were immediately mobilized, with six National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, fire engines, ambulances, and police units rushing to the scene. However, the intensity of the fire and the sheer force of the impact left little chance of survival for those onboard. Indian Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the crash site, stated that the presence of 1.25 lakh liters of fuel on the plane made rescue operations impossible due to the extreme heat.
“Most of the bodies have been charred beyond recognition,” Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik stated, indicating that DNA testing would be required for identification. Initial reports also confirmed that several medical students and a PG resident doctor within the hostel were among the deceased, alongside the wife of a superspecialist doctor. Over 60 medical students were reportedly injured on the ground.
The passenger manifest indicated a diverse mix of nationalities, with 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian among those on board. The British government has dispatched a team to assist with the investigation, and Boeing’s President and CEO, Kelly Ortberg, expressed “profound sorrow” and offered condolences to the affected families.
This crash marks the first fatal incident involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner since its commercial service began in 2011, putting renewed scrutiny on the aircraft model and its manufacturer. While the cause of the crash remains under investigation, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has initiated a formal probe, and international teams from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are also en route to assist.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep grief, stating the tragedy “has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words.” As the nation grapples with the immense loss, the focus remains on recovery efforts, supporting the bereaved families, and uncovering the precise reasons behind this devastating air disaster.