A devastating aviation disaster struck India on Thursday when Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
The tragic incident resulted in the loss of 241 lives, with only one passenger reportedly surviving the crash.
According to official sources, the aircraft had 242 individuals on board, including 230 passengers, two pilots, and ten cabin crew members. The plane went down in a densely populated residential zone near a medical hostel and canteen, causing widespread destruction on the ground in addition to the tragic loss of lives in the air.
Passenger demographics were reported as follows: 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. The names of the deceased have not yet been officially released pending DNA identification efforts.
In an extraordinary turn of events, one individual was confirmed to have survived the crash. Preliminary reports have identified the survivor as a 38-year-old British national, Ramesh Viswashkumar, who was allegedly seated in seat 11A. Eyewitness accounts and emergency responders suggested that the passenger managed to escape through an emergency window seconds before the aircraft exploded. However, aviation authorities have not officially confirmed the survivor’s identity. The individual is currently being treated at an undisclosed medical facility, and their condition remains under observation.
Rescue operations were immediately launched, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) working in tandem with local emergency teams. Over 200 bodies have already been recovered, and advanced DNA testing is being employed to assist with victim identification.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel have been coordinating emergency response efforts. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu visited the crash site and described the aftermath as “deeply distressing.” The Tata Group, which owns Air India, has announced a compensation package of ₹1 crore for the families of each deceased passenger.
To support relatives of the victims, a dedicated helpline has been activated: 1800 5691 444.
This tragedy marks one of the darkest days in Indian civil aviation history, and investigations into the cause of the crash are expected to be conducted with urgency and transparency in the coming days.
Watch the video below.
@nepal.360 A video of the first survivor casually walking away as if nothing happened is going viral on the internet following the plane crash in Ahmedabad, India. #ahmedabad #news #airindia