INTERNATIONAL – Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, tragically crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12, 2025. Reported from detik.com, the plane carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, the aircraft descended rapidly and struck the hostel block of B.J. Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area, resulting in a devastating loss of life both onboard and on the ground.
This marks the first fatal incident in the Boeing 787’s history, which until now had maintained a strong safety record since entering service in 2011. The crash, happening roughly 30 seconds after takeoff, appears to have followed a sudden loss of altitude. Initial eyewitness accounts and video evidence indicate the aircraft reached about 160 m before plummeting and exploding into the hostel, witnessed as a massive fireball heard across the neighborhood.
Recovery efforts have recovered approximately 269 victims: 241 individuals onboard and at least 28 others killed on the ground, including five medical students, a resident doctor, and a doctor’s wife during lunch hour. Over 60 people suffered injuries in the crash zone. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the tragedy “heartbreaking beyond words,” while international leaders including UK’s Keir Starmer and Pope Leo XIV expressed profound condolences.
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Miraculously, one survivor, 40‑year‑old British national Ramesh Vishwashkumar (seat 11A), escaped through an emergency exit and later recounted his ordeal. “When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared…Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance,” he told Hindustan Times from his hospital bed.
Rescue teams worked tirelessly under challenging conditions to retrieve wreckage and victims. DNA samples are being collected to assist identification efforts. Investigations led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, with assistance from Boeing, GE Aerospace, the U.S. NTSB and FAA, have launched inquiries into possible engine failure or power loss during ascent.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson stated: “We will continue to share accurate and timely information…our teams are working around the clock to support passengers, crew and their families,” while Boeing affirmed its commitment to the investigation, noting this as the first fatal crash of a 787‑8 Dreamliner.
The crash not only shocks India but also raises urgent questions regarding Boeing’s oversight and Air India’s modernization. Boeing shares dropped approximately 5 % following the news. As the global aviation community mourns, Ahmedabad Airport has resumed limited operations, but the shadow of this unprecedented disaster continues to loom.
