INDIA – Air India Flight Crashes After Takeoff from Ahmedabad—241 Dead, One Survivor

June 13, 2025

Summary of the Incident

An Air India flight bound for London’s Gatwick Airport crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday, killing 241 people. Only one passenger survived—a British national identified as Vishwashkumar Ramesh.

The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, went down in the densely populated Meghani Nagar neighborhood. While more than 200 bodies have been recovered, the total number of ground casualties remains uncertain.

Flight Details

  • Flight Number: AI171
  • Departure: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad
  • Scheduled Arrival: London Gatwick, 18:25 BST
  • Crash Timing: Less than one minute after takeoff
  • Last Recorded Altitude: 625 feet (190 meters)

FlightRadar24 data shows that communication with the aircraft was lost moments after departure. India’s aviation regulator confirmed that a mayday signal was sent, but no further messages were received.

Casualties and Survivor Information

  • Total Onboard: 242 passengers and crew
  • Nationalities:
    • 169 Indian
    • 53 British
    • 7 Portuguese
    • 1 Canadian
    • 12 crew members
  • Sole Survivor: Vishwashkumar Ramesh (Seat 11A), a British citizen

Rescue teams continue to work at the crash site, and the identification of victims is ongoing.

Aircraft Background

  • Model: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
  • Significance: First major crash involving this aircraft model
  • Operator: Air India (Part of Tata Group)
  • Fleet Info: Over 190 planes, including 58 Boeing aircraft

Boeing issued a statement offering condolences and support:

“We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them.”

Possible Cause: Flap Configuration

Aviation experts reviewing video footage suggest that the aircraft’s wing flaps might not have been extended during takeoff—a possible contributing factor to the crash.

  • Geoffrey Thomas (Aviation Analyst): Noted that the landing gear was down but the flaps were retracted.
  • Terry Tozer (Aviation Expert): Observed no visible flap deployment, which would have made safe takeoff difficult.
  • Marco Chan (Former Pilot): Stated that if flap misconfiguration occurred, it could indicate human error—though the video resolution is too poor to confirm.

Response from Authorities and Air India

  • Air India: Confirmed the accident on X (formerly Twitter) and is fully cooperating with investigators.
  • Support Hotline: 1800 5691 444
  • CEO Campbell Wilson: Expressed “deep sorrow” and emphasized the company’s focus on supporting victims and families.

“This is a difficult day for all of us at Air India,” Wilson said in a video statement.

  • Tata Group (Parent Company): Announced ₹1 crore (approx. £86,000) compensation for each victim’s family.

Government and Emergency Action

  • India’s Aviation Minister: Ordered coordinated response efforts across all aviation and emergency services.
  • Gujarat Chief Minister: Directed immediate rescue and relief operations “on a war footing.”
  • Airport Status: Ahmedabad airport operations are suspended until further notice.

Photo credit: BBC News. All rights reserved.

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