What was meant to be a normal domicile-to-destination trip turned into tragedy when Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed within a half minute of taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport?
The Flight and the Disaster
- Departure: Flight AI 171 took off around 13:38 IST on June 12.
- Crash: Around 30 to 34 seconds into the flight, while climbing at 625 ft, the aircraft dropped and plowed into a residential colony—specifically a hostel building at B.J. Medical College in Meghani Nagar—exploding on impact.
- Fatalities: On-board were 242 people (230 passengers, 12 crew). All but one perished. One British national, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, survived with minor injuries after escaping from seat 11A.
- Ground Casualties: A minimum of 28 people in the building lost their lives, and some 60 were injured during lunch-hour activities at the medical college.
Lives in Transition
AI 171 flight carried a tapestry of human tales—families saying final goodbyes, professionals going to new beginnings, and couples such as Jamie Meek and Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, who had been chronicling their “last night in India” minutes before setting off. Their carefree, optimistic moments were cruelly brought to an end.
Ominous Past Incident
A month prior, on May 1, passenger Sharad Raval had a serious technical problem on the same AI 171. Cabin lights flickered off, and the flight was delayed for hours in uncomfortably sweltering temperatures before ultimately taking off—causing doubts about outstanding aircraft problems.
Investigating the Cause
Initial indications are that there is no urgent need to ground the Boeing 787 fleet, and American aviation regulators (FAA, NTSB), Boeing, and GE Aerospace have dispatched teams to work together with India’s AAIB. Videos indicate the plane might have tried to climb with landing gear down and flaps extended in the wrong position—a wrong take-off configuration—though experts say not to jump to conclusions.
Black boxes have since been retrieved, and their information will be vital in reconstructing the last few seconds of the flight path of the aircraft, systems functioning, and communications by the pilot.
The Survivor’s Tale
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was sitting at 11A, narrated hearing a deafening sound just 30 seconds into take-off before the plane crashed. He survived amidst the rubble, explaining the mayhem that enveloped him.
A Nation in Mourning
This accident represents India’s worst single-plane crash and the first fatal Boeing 787 accident since its introduction in 2011. The disaster resonates far beyond Indian shores; the death was met with condolences from Prime Minister Modi, U.K. leaders such as King Charles III and PM Keir Starmer, and international aviation stakeholders.
What Comes Next? - The investigation will be centered on flight control data, maintenance records, crew communications, and eyewitness video.
- Safety Precautions: Until results become available, operators of Boeing 787 continue to be watchful. U.S. officials have not ordered grounding but are keeping a close eye.
- Rescue Efforts: Air India, now owned by Tata Group, set up helplines for families of victims, and flight services at Ahmedabad airport were temporarily grounded as rescue teams operated at the site.
In Memoriam & Reflection
AI 171 took more than passengers on board—it took hopes: of reunions, dreams overseas, new lives. Its sudden cut eliminated that promise. In the count of many people grieving, one survivor remains to remind us of the fragile line between fate and calamity.
