More than 240 people were killed when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on 12 June 2025.
Flight AI171, which was bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, was carrying 242 people.
The aircraft struck a medical college hostel during lunchtime. Air India confirmed there was only one survivor, making it the deadliest aviation disaster in the past decade.
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Sole Survivor Escaped Through Emergency Exit
The sole survivor is Mr Ramesh Viswashkumar, a 40-year-old British national of Indian origin. He was seated in seat 11A, next to an emergency exit.
“Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed,” he told the Hindustan Times from his hospital bed. “It all happened so quickly.”
Mr Viswashkumar said he awoke surrounded by wreckage and bodies. “I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me.” He was pulled into an ambulance and taken to hospital.
His brother, Ajay, was also on the flight but seated elsewhere. “He was travelling with me and I can’t find him anymore. Please help me find him,” Mr Viswashkumar said.
According to air traffic control, the aircraft departed at 1.39pm local time, which was 4.09pm in Singapore. The flight made a Mayday call, signalling an emergency, but lost contact shortly after.
CCTV footage showed the plane taking off over residential areas before disappearing from view. A large fireball was seen moments later.
Authorities Launch Investigation Into First Fatal Dreamliner Crash
Senior police officer Ms Vidhi Chaudhary confirmed that the death toll exceeded 240. She corrected an earlier figure of 294 after it was found that some body parts had been double-counted.
Ahmedabad police chief Mr GS Malik said the victims included passengers and people on the ground. Among those killed was Mr Vijay Rupani, the former chief minister of Gujarat.
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Parts of the aircraft’s fuselage were scattered around the burning hostel. The tail section was found lodged on the building’s rooftop.
Air India confirmed the flight carried 217 adults, 11 children, and two infants. The passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian.
This is the first fatal crash involving the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which began commercial operations in 2011. The crashed aircraft first flew in 2013 and joined Air India’s fleet in January 2014.
US aviation expert Mr Anthony Brickhouse said video footage suggested the landing gear was still down during takeoff. “If you didn’t know what was happening, you would think the plane was landing,” he said.
Global Aviation Authorities Involved
India’s Civil Aviation Minister Mr Ram Mohan Naidu said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has opened a formal inquiry. A high-level committee has been formed to lead the investigation.
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Boeing chief executive Mr Kelly Ortberg said he has spoken to Air India’s chairman and offered full support. A team has been sent to assist. Boeing shares fell five percent following the crash.
GE Aerospace announced it will send experts to analyse cockpit data. The US transportation secretary said the Federal Aviation Administration is working closely with Boeing and GE.
At Ahmedabad’s government hospital, Ms Poonam Patel waited for updates about her sister-in-law who was on the flight. “Within an hour, I got news that the plane had crashed,” she told ANI.
Another woman, Ms Ramila, said her son was at the medical college hostel when the aircraft struck. “My son is safe. I have spoken to him. He jumped from the second floor and suffered injuries,” she said.
State health secretary Mr Dhananjay Dwivedi said relatives will need to provide DNA samples to help identify the victims.
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World Leaders Express Condolences
Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi called the crash “heartbreaking beyond words” on social media. Gujarat is his home state.
British Prime Minister Mr Keir Starmer described the images from the crash as devastating. Buckingham Palace confirmed King Charles is receiving regular updates.
US President Mr Donald Trump said the crash was “terrible.”
Ahmedabad Airport suspended operations immediately after the incident but later resumed limited flights. The airport is operated by the Adani Group.
The last fatal air crash in India occurred in 2020 and involved Air India Express. A Boeing 737 overshot a runway in Kerala, plunged into a valley, and broke apart, killing 21 people.
Air India was acquired by the Tata Group in 2022. It later merged with Vistara, a joint venture with Singapore Airlines, in 2024.
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