Category: Indian Current Affairs | Aviation Safety | Disaster News
Date: June 2025
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š„ The Incident: Cargo to Catastrophe
A London-bound Air India Boeing 787ā8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AIā171, crashed into a residential building and medical college hostel shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on June 12, 2025. The flight carried 242 peopleā230 passengers and 12 crewāalong with hostel occupants.
Indian authorities and Air India confirmed a total of 241 onboard fatalities, plus additional deaths and injuries on the ground, making it one of Indiaās deadliest air disasters in decades news.com.au+15apnews.com+15reuters.com+15.
š Miracle Survivor: Vishwashkumar Ramesh
Amid this horror, a miraculous story emerged: Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British-Indian seated in 11A (an exit row), survived. He was the only person found alive in the wreckage. According to hospital officials, Ramesh sustained multiple injuries, including burns and fractures, but is currently stable and recovering timesofindia.indiatimes.com+15theguardian.com+15washingtonpost.com+15.
He recounted the terrifying final moments: the aircraft appeared āstuck in the airā before lights flickered and it plummeted into the hostel. After impact, Ramesh crawled through a fuselage breach and escapedāeven as fellow passengers around him did not theguardian.com+1thesun.ie+1.
š§© Casualties: International & Ground Impact
The tragedy struck globally:
- Passengers: 169 Indian, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian national aboard theguardian.com+15apnews.com+15people.com+15.
- On-ground victims: At least 29 medical students and hostel residents were killed or injured when the aircraft crashed into a hostel dining hall news.northeastern.edu+15apnews.com+15apnews.com+15.
š Potential Cause: Dual Engine Failure Suspected
Preliminary video analysis shows deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT)āa backup system that activates in case of total engine or electrical failure. Aviation experts suggest this points to a catastrophic dual-engine failure, rather than pilot error news.com.au+1thescottishsun.co.uk+1.
The aircraft was 12 years oldāno prior 787 Dreamliner had experienced a fatal crash in its 16-year history. The crash site is under forensic scrutiny, and CCTV/black box recoveries are expected to provide more clarity.
š Rescue Operations & Aftermath
Emergency services, including fire, police, and medical teams, responded swiftly. Bodies were transferred to mortuaries, with DNA testing used to identify victims due to severe burns . Invitations for global assistance have been extended to the UK, US, and Boeing.
Leadersāincluding PM Modi, UK PM Starmer, and King Charlesāexpressed condolences. Air India has set up support centresĀ at key airports to assist grieving families.
šÆļø Human Tragedy: Individual Stories
The crash claimed many livesāamong them:
- A young UK couple, recently engaged, tragically lost their lives shortly after arriving in India
- Ravi Thakor, an Ahmedabad canteen worker, lost his wife and daughter who were in the hostel, and clings to hope of another miracle.
š Lessons & Outlook
This accident marks:
- Indiaās deadliest air crash since 1996
- The first-ever fatal crash involving the Boeing 787 Dreamliner en.wikipedia.org
With the crash now under investigation, findingsāespecially black box dataāare expected to reveal critical safety lessons.
š Conclusion: A Nation in Mourning, a Glimmer of Hope
The Air India Flight AIā171 crash leaves Indiaāand the worldāgrappling with loss, but the survival of Vishwashkumar Ramesh offers a flicker of hope. As investigations move forward and families await closure, this incident underlines the need for continued focus on aviation safety and emergency response.
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