What Happened & Timeline
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Date & Time: June 12, 2025, 1:38 PM IST (08:08 AM UTC)
Flight: Air India Flight AI171
Destination: London Gatwick Airport
Takeoff to Tragedy – Step-by-Step:
1:38 PM IST: Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, bound for London.
Within 30 to 60 seconds: The aircraft climbed to only about 625 feet (190 meters) before it lost power, failed to gain altitude, and began to descend rapidly.
Explosion & Fire: The crash caused an immediate explosion followed by a fireball, engulfing a large part of the building and scattering debris across a 200-meter radius.
Rescue Response: Emergency services—fire brigade, ambulances, and even Indian Army personnel—rushed to the spot within minutes. Rescue operations continued for hours as responders pulled bodies and survivors from the wreckage.
Death & Destruction
Lost in the Sky
- Total people onboard: 242
- 230 passengers
- 12 crew members
- Fatalities onboard: 241
Only 1 survivor:
- Name: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh
- Age: Approximately 42
- Nationality: British citizen (Indian origin)
He was seated in 11A, near an emergency exit door. According to his statement, the moment the aircraft shuddered and the explosion occurred, he instinctively jumped out through the emergency door, just seconds before the fuselage tore apart. Despite suffering serious injuries to his chest, face, and legs, he managed to escape the wreckage and walked toward an ambulance, becoming the sole survivor of the catastrophic crash.
Nationalities of Passengers:
- Indian nationals: 169
British citizens: 53 - Portuguese: 7
- Canadian: 1
- (Nationality of 12 others yet to be confirmed by authorities)
Doctor’s Hostel:
- Confirmed deaths on the ground:60
5 young medical students - 6 junior resident doctors
- 1 pregnant woman doctor – Kajol Pradeep Solanki
- Hostel kitchen and housekeeping staff
- Injured on ground: More than 50 individuals, some in critical condition
Crash Impact: The aircraft crashed into a residential doctors’ hostel named “Atulyam-4” located inside the B. J. Medical College campus, near the densely populated Meghani Nagar area.
Ground Damage: The crash occurred around lunchtime. At least 28 deaths among MBBS doctors and students in the hostel, including 5 medical students, one pregnant woman, and facility staff. Over 50 injured . The hostel was full of MBBS students and medical staff, many of whom were killed instantly. The impact also destroyed multiple cars parked nearby, including Ola, Uber vehicles, and personal student vehicles.
Property & Vehicle Damage:
Completely destroyed: Large section of Atulyam-4 building
Over 30 vehicles, including Ola/Uber cabs, student cars, and emergency vehicles
Nearby buildings: Suffered blast and fire damage from the explosion.
Debris fallout: Scattered across a 200-meter radius, damaging windows and properties in nearby residential apartments.
International Attention & Boeing Under Scrutiny
The crash of Air India Flight AI171 has sparked global concern, especially in the United States, where aircraft manufacturer Boeing is headquartered. The Dreamliner 787–8, once hailed as one of the safest and most efficient aircrafts, is now under intense scrutiny.
Boeing’s Reputation at Risk
This is one of the deadliest crashes involving a Boeing 787.
The engines used were manufactured by GE Aerospace (USA), leading to added pressure on both American aviation oversight and Boeing.
The NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) and FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) from the U.S. are now actively participating in the crash investigation alongside Indian authorities.
Headlines Across the Globe
From New York Times to The Guardian, international media has placed this tragedy on their front pages. Aviation analysts are questioning:
“Was there a technical failure that could have been prevented?”
“Did Boeing overlook crucial maintenance updates?”
For U.S. readers, this raises a major question:
🛑 Are the skies still safe?
Countless Stories – The Passengers of Flight AI171
Vijay Rupani – A Journey Left Unfinished
Vijay Rupani, the former Chief Minister of Gujarat, wasn’t traveling for politics that day.
He was on a personal journey — flying to London to meet his daughter.
What was meant to be a heartwarming reunion and a joyful celebration of family.
His passing shook Indian political circles, but beyond the headlines, it reminded us of a simple, painful truth:
“In a plane crash, there are no VIPs — only human lives, all equally precious.”
Every Passenger – An Unfinished Story
Flight AI171 had 241 people on board. Each seat carried a unique, living story:
- A father heading to his daughter’s graduation in London.
- A young couple flying for their long-awaited honeymoon.
- A medical student on his way to begin a new life in the UK.
- An grandmother, excited to hold her newborn grandchild for the first time…
- In just 2 minutes, all these stories were turn into ashes.
🛑 This Wasn’t Just a Crash — It Was 241 Lives Interrupted
For readers in the U.S. and around the world, this tragedy is a somber reminder that aviation safety isn’t just about engineering — it’s about protecting dreams, families, and futures.
The loss of someone like Vijay Rupani makes headlines.
But the silent heartbreak of hundreds of unnamed passengers is what truly defines the scale of this disaster.
