Tragedy in the Skies: The Full Story of Air India Flight 171 Crash and Investigation
On June 12, 2025, at 1:38 PM IST, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, bound for London Gatwick Airport. Carrying 242 passengers and crew, including 169 Indian, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian national, the flight was meant to be a routine international journey. But within 30 seconds, the aircraft plummeted into a doctors’ hostel at B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad’s Meghaninagar neighborhood, erupting into a fireball. The crash killed 241 people on board, at least 28 on the ground, and left one miraculous survivor, marking it as one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters. As investigators from India, the US, and the UK piece together the causes, the tragedy has left a nation and the world in mourning. Here’s the full story and the latest on the investigation.
The Fateful Flight
Flight AI171, commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal (8,200 flight hours) and First Officer Clive Kundar (1,100 hours), lifted off smoothly from runway 23 at 1:38 PM. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, registered as VT-ANB and delivered to Air India in 2014, had an impeccable safety record, with no prior fatal crashes for the model. The weather was clear, with temperatures around 40°C, good visibility, and light winds, ruling out adverse conditions as an immediate factor.
CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts paint a chilling picture. Seconds after takeoff, the aircraft struggled to gain altitude, reaching a maximum of 625 feet (190 meters) before descending at 475 feet per minute. A Mayday call was issued to air traffic control, signaling a critical issue. Videos show the plane flying low over residential buildings, its nose pitched up and landing gear still down, before it slammed into the hostel, triggering a massive explosion. The impact sent thick black smoke spiraling into the sky, with debris scattered over 200 meters.
The Sole Survivor and Victims
Miraculously, one passenger, 40-year-old British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, seated in 11A, survived. Bloodied but conscious, Ramesh walked away from the wreckage, later telling The Hindu and NDTV, “Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise, and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.” He recounted pushing open an emergency exit and jumping to safety as the plane’s side hit the ground floor of the building. Ramesh, hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, is recovering but remains traumatized. His family reported he was traveling with his brother, Ajay Kumar Ramesh (seat 11J), whose fate remains unclear.
The crash claimed 241 lives on board, including 230 passengers (11 children, 2 infants) and 12 crew members, and at least 28 on the ground, including four medical students. Victims included diverse stories: a single mother returning to her UK nursing job, a man visiting his sister in London, and a family of three—British nationals Akeel and Hannaa Nanabawa and their 4-year-old daughter Sara—surprising relatives for Eid. Cabin crew member Maithili Patil, 23, had called her father before takeoff, promising to phone from London—a call that never came. The Patel family, Ashok and Shobhana, were returning to their sons and grandchildren in Kent, while nurse Renjitha Gopakumaran Nair was heading back to India for a new job. The loss of Dr. Prateek Joshi, his wife, and three children devastated the Derby Hindu community.
Immediate Response
Emergency teams, including three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) units with 90 personnel, firefighters, police, and the Indian Army’s 130 personnel, rushed to the scene. Gujarat Governor Bhupendra Patel ordered a “green corridor” for ambulances, while hospitals like Ahmedabad Civil Hospital treated dozens of injured ground victims, including 50–60 medical students. The crash site, described as a “wasteland of charred metal and scorched trees,” was cordoned off, with floodlights aiding overnight recovery efforts. Residents likened the impact to “an earthquake or bomb blast.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site and survivor Ramesh on June 13, calling the tragedy “heartbreaking beyond words.” Air India set up a helpline (1800-5691-444), and the Gujarat police issued another (079-25620359). Tata Group, Air India’s parent, announced ₹10 million (US$120,000) per victim’s family under the Montreal Convention, though lawyers advised against accepting until the investigation concludes. World leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Pope Leo XIV, offered condolences.
Investigation: Unraveling the Cause
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), assisted by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch, and Boeing experts, is leading the probe. Both black boxes—flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR)—were recovered by June 13, with one slightly damaged but recoverable. A digital video recorder (DVR) was also found, offering potential clues. The investigation focuses on three key areas: human error, mechanical failure, and external factors.
Key Findings and Theories:
- Improper Aircraft Configuration:
- Experts noted the landing gear remained down, unusual for takeoff, as pilots typically retract it to reduce drag. Former BA pilot Alastair Rosenschein and aviation analyst Paul Edwards highlighted that the wing flaps appeared misconfigured, potentially failing to provide the lift needed for climb. This could explain why the plane “would not have been able to maintain flight.”
- A post on X speculated the pilot attempted a forced takeoff without extending flaps, leading to a stall.
- Engine Failure or Bird Strike:
- The plane’s struggle to gain altitude suggests a loss of thrust. Experts theorize a rare double engine failure, similar to the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson,” though such events are nearly unheard of for the Boeing 787’s GE Aerospace GEnx engines.
- Ahmedabad airport is “notorious for birds,” with 462 bird strike incidents reported over five years. A bird strike could have caused engine damage, as seen in South Korea’s Jeju Air crash in 2024. Survivor Ramesh’s report of a “loud bang” supports this theory.
- Other Hypotheses:
- Former NAL deputy director Saligram J. Murlidhar suggested possible fuel contamination as a “preliminary assumption,” hinting at sabotage, though this remains unverified.
- Overloading was proposed but seems unlikely, as the 787-8 is designed to handle its passenger and fuel load.
- Pilot error, such as yanking the yoke to gain lift, was noted, but Captain Sabharwal’s experience makes this less probable.
Investigation Progress:
- The FDR and CVR will reveal critical data on engine performance, pilot actions, and system alerts. GE Aerospace and Boeing are analyzing cockpit and engine data, with results expected to take weeks.
- India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered extra safety checks on Air India’s Boeing 787-8/9 fleet, focusing on GEnx engines.
- No evidence of terrorism has emerged, but the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad is assisting.
Impact and Aftermath
The crash, the first fatal incident for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, sent Boeing’s stock tumbling 7–9% in pre-market trading, reflecting concerns over its safety record post-737 Max crises. Air India, recently privatized under Tata Group, faces scrutiny as it aims to become a global aviation hub. The tragedy has renewed focus on India’s aviation safety, with comparisons to past crashes like Air India Express Flight IX-812 (2010, 158 deaths) and Flight 171 in 1976 (95 deaths).
Locally, Ahmedabad’s community is reeling. The hostel’s destruction left medical students homeless, and families are relying on DNA testing to identify victims due to the fire’s intensity (1,000°C from 125,000 liters of fuel). Stories of loss, like that of cabin crew member Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma, whose family learned of her death via social media, underscore the human toll.
A Nation Mourns
As investigations continue, Air India Flight 171 stands as a somber reminder of aviation’s fragility. From the sole survivor’s miraculous escape to the global outpouring of grief, the tragedy has united communities in sorrow and resolve. Prime Minister Modi’s words echo the sentiment: “It is heartbreaking beyond words.” With answers still emerging, the focus remains on supporting victims’ families and ensuring such a disaster never happens again.
