India (Commonwealth Union)_ In one of the most devastating air disasters in recent memory, an Air India flight en route to London crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon, killing more than 200 people. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, flight AI-171, burst into flames moments after takeoff, plunging into the BJ Medical College hostel located near the airport. The aircraft, registered as VT-ANB, was carrying 242 people, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese. Tragically, only one confirmed survivor has been reported so far: a 40-year-old British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was seated in 11A near the emergency door. He sustained injuries but is expected to recover.
Among the victims was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was seated just behind Ramesh. Additionally, several BJ Medical College students also lost their lives when the jet crashed into their dormitory building, leaving at least five dead and over 40 wounded. The disaster occurred between 1 and 2 pm local time, few minutes after the plane took off. Officials say the flight issued a Mayday signal, which is the most serious form of distress communication, before losing contact with air traffic control. Moments later, the plane plummeted from the sky and exploded in the Meghaninagar area, just beyond the airport’s premises. Thick fumes of black smoke were visible for miles. Following the tragedy, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the flight, operated by Air India, now under Tata Group ownership, took off from Runway 23 at 1:39 pm. Despite receiving a distress call, air traffic controllers were unable to re-establish communication with the cockpit.
The aircraft was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a senior Line Training Captain with over 8,000 hours of flying time, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had around 1,100 hours. Emergency response personnel, including army forces, responded swiftly at the crash scene to help with rescue and recovery activities. Hospitals in Ahmedabad were put on high alert, with dozens of injured people rushing in for treatment. The United States has also sent a high-level technical team to assist in the probe, given the Boeing 787 involved is an American-built aircraft. The tragedy is the first catastrophic crash involving a Dreamliner and the first severe aviation disaster for Air India since its privatization in 2022.
Soon after the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, calling the tragedy “heartbreaking beyond words.” He said he was in close contact with officials overseeing rescue efforts. Home Minister Amit Shah, who represents the nearby Gandhinagar constituency, visited the site in the evening, and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu pledged swift action, saying, “We are on the highest alert.” Air India CEO Campbell Wilson described it as a “difficult day for all of us,” emphasizing the airline’s full commitment to supporting victims’ families. “There are many questions. We’re working closely with authorities to find answers,” he said in a video statement. Tata Sons and Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran announced a compensation package of ₹1 crore for each victim’s family, in addition to covering medical costs for the injured and supporting rebuilding efforts at BJ Medical College.
Flight operations at Ahmedabad airport were temporarily suspended but resumed around 4:05 pm. A dedicated helpline (1800 5691 444) has been activated to support families and provide regular updates. The crash comes just weeks after the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting was held in Delhi, underscoring India’s growing role in global aviation. The tragedy has placed a dark cloud over the industry. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also released a statement, describing the incident as “devastating” and assuring that his government is actively watching the situation. Furthermore, the investigation is underway, with specialists expected to evaluate the aircraft’s black box data and communication logs to identify the cause of the incident. Authorities warn that it might be weeks or perhaps months before a definitive explanation is provided.