AHMEDABAD, India — A routine international flight turned into one of the worst aviation disasters in Indian history when Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after liftoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The jet collided with the B.J. Medical College hostel complex, killing nearly everyone aboard and causing widespread destruction on the ground.
Officials confirmed that of the 242 people onboard — including 230 passengers and 12 crew — only one survived: 40-year-old British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, who was seated near the front of the aircraft. He was pulled from the wreckage with minor injuries.
“Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise… and then the plane crashed,” Ramesh told BBC News, recounting the chaotic moments that followed.
The crash site, a densely populated student area, was left in ruins. Medical students and faculty were among the at least 28 killed on the ground. Rescue workers and volunteers scrambled to clear debris, recover remains, and assist survivors. Over 60 people on the ground were injured, several critically.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site Thursday evening, calling the tragedy “heartbreaking beyond words” and pledging full federal support for the investigation and relief efforts. The Indian government has opened a formal inquiry through the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with assistance from international partners, including the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing representatives.
Authorities recovered both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, which are expected to provide key insights into what caused the crash. Early theories include a potential bird strike, wing flap failure, extreme heat conditions at takeoff, or software issues with the aircraft’s automation systems.
The Boeing 787 involved in the incident was 11 years old. Thursday’s crash marks the first fatal hull loss for the Dreamliner series since it entered service in 2011. In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered immediate inspections of all Boeing 787 aircraft in India equipped with GEnx engines, according to Reuters.
Air India has not released an official statement beyond confirming the loss and pledging cooperation with investigators.
Back at the crash site, volunteers and grieving families gathered amid smoldering debris and overturned medical equipment. Many of the bodies were burned beyond recognition, prompting officials to begin mass DNA testing to identify the deceased. Authorities have urged families to provide dental records and personal effects.
Ramesh, the sole survivor, is expected to fly home to the U.K. in the coming days after receiving medical clearance. His survival, a statistical anomaly in a crash of this magnitude, is already drawing international attention and renewed calls for aviation safety reform.
