(Scypre.com) – A devastating aviation tragedy unfolded on June 12, 2025, when Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner en route to London Gatwick, crashed moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft, which was carrying 242 people — 230 passengers and 12 crew members — went down in a fiery wreck after failing to gain altitude and colliding with a medical college hostel in the Meghani Nagar district. The crash has claimed the lives of at least 204 people aboard, with the total death toll reaching approximately 290 when including ground fatalities. Miraculously, one passenger, seated in 11A, survived the disaster and is being treated in a local hospital.
Eyewitnesses and surveillance footage reveal the aircraft struggling to climb before nosediving into the hostel building. One British national, Ramesh Vishwaskumar, who survived the crash, reported hearing a loud noise immediately after takeoff before losing consciousness. Disturbingly, a passenger who flew on the same plane just hours earlier reported multiple technical issues including faulty air conditioning and inoperative cabin systems, raising concerns about the aircraft’s condition prior to takeoff.
The impact of the crash on the ground was equally harrowing, with five confirmed fatalities and dozens injured in the hostel that the aircraft struck. Rescue teams including fire brigades, medical units, and the Indian Army were swiftly mobilized to extinguish the blaze and search through the wreckage. Authorities have begun DNA identification of the deceased and are working around the clock to contact relatives and provide emergency assistance.
Air India confirmed the loss of Flight AI171 and stated that efforts are underway to gather all relevant details. Tata Group, the airline’s parent company, has announced compensation of ₹1 crore (around $116,000) for each victim and pledged full medical coverage for survivors. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the tragedy “heartbreaking beyond words,” while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III extended condolences and support to those affected.
Investigations have been launched by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Boeing, GE Aerospace, and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. Preliminary expert analysis suggests that the aircraft did not retract its landing gear and may have stalled shortly after takeoff. The black box and cockpit voice recorders have been recovered and are being analyzed for clues into the cause of the crash. This marks the first fatal incident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its introduction in 2009, adding urgency to the investigation.
Air India, now operated under Tata after its privatization, has had a history of safety issues, including a deadly crash in 2010 and a runway overrun in 2020. While the Dreamliner has previously been praised for its advanced technology and safety features, this incident has put Boeing’s flagship aircraft under intense scrutiny. Relief flights have been arranged for the families of the victims, and memorial services are being planned as the nation mourns one of its deadliest aviation disasters in recent memory.