Tragic Air India Dreamliner Crash in Ahmedabad: 241 Lives Lost, Only One Survivor

Ahmedabad, June 13, 2025 – In what is being described as India’s deadliest aviation disaster in nearly a decade, Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787–8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport yesterday afternoon. The aircraft collided with a hostel block on the campus of B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad’s Meghani Nagar neighbourhood, claiming at least 241 lives onboard and resulting in additional fatalities and injuries on the ground .

Catastrophic Impact near Medical College Hostel

Flight AI 171 departed Ahmedabad at approximately 1:38 p.m. IST on June 12, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Just 30 seconds into its ascent, the aircraft reportedly stalled, plummeting into the four‑storey hostel accommodation for intern doctors. Eyewitnesses described hearing multiple explosions followed by thick plumes of black smoke rising into the sky   .

Rescue teams from the NDRF, IAF, BSF, and NSG were immediately dispatched, along with local fire and emergency services. As of today, over 265 bodies have been recovered, with ground casualties ranging from 28 to 29 individuals—many of them students and staff residing in the hostel   .

Sole Survivor’s Miraculous Escape

The lone survivor, 40‑year‑old British‑Indian national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, was seated in row 11A near an emergency exit. He sustained minor burns and bruising and managed to evacuate through a broken hatch before the aircraft was consumed by fire   .

Ramesh later recounted a harrowing experience: “a loud noise before the crash… then crawling through the damaged hatch” while resigning himself to what seemed certain death   .

Prominent Casualties and National Response

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among those killed in the crash   . The pilot reportedly issued a “Mayday” call before communications abruptly ceased, suggesting a sudden technical failure during the takeoff phase   .

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad to assess rescue efforts and meet with the sole survivor   . Condolences also poured in from political leaders nationwide and from international figures, including Singapore’s PM Lawrence Wong, UK PM Keir Starmer, and King Charles III   .

Search and Investigation Underway

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), assisted by U.S. NTSB, British investigators, Boeing, and GE Aerospace, has launched a full-scale probe. According to initial reports, one of the aircraft’s black boxes has been retrieved, and forensic teams are examining crash site debris   .

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is also considering grounding Air India’s entire Boeing 787 fleet pending investigation findings   .

Community Grief and Support Measures

Tata Group, the airline’s parent company, has pledged ₹1 crore in compensation for the families of each onboard victim and is covering medical expenses   . In Ahmedabad, Air India has set up assistance centers at major airports, and DNA sampling is ongoing at the Civil Hospital to identify victims   .

Local authorities, including Home Minister Amit Shah and the Gujarat Government, have held high‑level review meetings to coordinate rescue, relief, and regulatory responses   .

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What Happens Next:

Our thoughts remain with the families and communities affected by this devastating loss. We will continue to provide updates as the AAIB investigation progresses.