On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and at least 32 on the ground, including medical students at a hostel struck by the wreckage. The sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin seated in 11A, escaped with injuries, leaving behind haunting questions about the catastrophe that has stunned India and the world.
The aircraft, carrying 169 Indian, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian national, issued a Mayday call seconds after departing at 1:39 p.m. IST, but communication ceased abruptly. Flightradar24 data shows the plane reached just 625 feet before plummeting into Meghani Nagar’s residential area, erupting into a fireball fueled by 125,000 liters of jet fuel. Videos circulating online depict the jet descending with its nose unusually elevated, raising speculation about its configuration. Aviation expert John Cox noted the plane appeared to be in a climbing posture yet was descending, suggesting potential issues with flaps, slats, or engine thrust.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are probing the crash, with one black box recovered and the cockpit voice recorder still sought. Theories abound: dual engine failure, incorrect flap settings, a bird strike, or even sabotage, as hinted by Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, though without evidence. The plane, delivered to Air India in 2014, had no prior fatal incidents in the 787’s history, deepening the mystery. CCTV footage and flight data are under scrutiny, but answers remain elusive.
The human toll is staggering. Among the victims was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, alongside students at BJ Medical College’s hostel, where debris pierced the dining hall. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the tragedy “heartbreaking beyond words,” while rescue operations involving NDRF, police, and fire services concluded with DNA testing to identify charred remains. Air India’s CEO, Campbell Wilson, pledged transparency, but families await closure.
As Boeing, the U.S. NTSB, and Britain’s AAIB assist India’s investigation, the world watches for answers. Was it mechanical failure, human error, or something sinister? Until the probe concludes, Ahmedabad mourns, and the questions persist.
Disaster in the Skies: Human Failure or Technical Failure?
