A Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner operating Air India Flight AI‑171 crashed just after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, en route to London Gatwick. The aircraft lost altitude roughly 30 seconds after departure, ultimately colliding with a building on the grounds of B.J. Medical College in a densely populated area.
Authorities confirmed that 241 people onboard—including **230 passengers and 12 crew members—**and at least 28 people on the ground lost their lives, bringing the total death toll to over 269.
Survivor: A Miraculous Escape from Seat 11A
Miraculously, 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British citizen of Indian origin, was the sole survivor. He was seated in 11A, near an emergency exit, and sustained chest, eye, and foot injuries. Footage later revealed he was thrown from the aircraft but somehow managed to extricate himself.
From his hospital bed in Ahmedabad, Ramesh described the crash as “a loud noise…within 30 seconds of takeoff.” He recounted being surrounded by wreckage and fleeing toward rescue personnel. His brother, who had been seated beside him, is feared among the casualties.
Rescue, Investigation, and Global Response
Rescue teams—including fire services, police, CISF, and the Indian Army—rushed to the scene, aiding survivors and clearing debris from both the crash site and the adjacent student hostel. DNA testing was initiated to identify charred remains.
Investigators from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, supported by teams from Boeing, the U.S. NTSB, FAA, and UK authorities, have launched a comprehensive probe into the causes behind the catastrophic failure of the Dreamliner’s climb-out.
