What you need to know about the Air India Boeing Dreamliner crash
The crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad city, killing all but one of the 242 people on board, is the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade.
At least 30 people were also killed on the ground when the aircraft crashed into a medical college hostel near the airport. The crash poses a fresh challenge for Air India, which has long sought to become a "world-class airline", and Boeing, which is working to restore public trust after safety and production crises.
A 59-second CCTV video clip, one of the strongest pieces of visual evidence, showed the takeoff and the crash. The descent of the plane starts roughly 17 seconds after takeoff. There is no fire visible around the engine or elsewhere when the plane appears to start going down. There were 169 Indians, 53 Britons, 7 Portuguese and one Canadian among the passengers on board, and 12 crew members were also on the plane.
The only survivor was Viswashkumar Ramesh, 40, who was in seat 11A, near the emergency exit.
Dozens of anxious family members are waiting to collect the bodies of loved ones as doctors work to gather dental samples and do DNA profiling to identify bodies badly charred.
Air India and the Indian government are looking at issues linked to engine thrust, flaps and why the landing gear remained open. The black boxes, crucial to the crash probe, have been recovered.
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IOL News
8 hours ago
- IOL News
Air India flight crashes with 242 passengers on board
Air India Flight AI171 crashed in Ahmedabad, India Image: IANS Air India flight AI171 en route from Ahmedabad to London's Gatwick Airport crashed just minutes after takeoff on Thursday afternoon, prompting the closure of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport for all operations. As a precautionary measure, the Ahmedabad airport has suspended all flight operations until further notice. 'Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is currently non-operational. All arrivals and departures are temporarily suspended,' said an airport spokesperson. Air India released a dedicated hotline number for families and friends to receive updates about passengers. So far, no official confirmation has been issued regarding casualties or survivors. However, multiple visuals from the site show severe damage to buildings and the aircraft's fuselage embedded into a hostel structure. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers, took off from Ahmedabad at 1.38 p.m. and crashed five minutes later into a residential locality in Meghani Nagar, just outside the airport perimeter. The crash resulted in thick black smoke engulfing the area and widespread panic among local residents. The site of a plane crash in Ahmedabad, India Image: IANS The flight was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a senior pilot with 8200 flying hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1100 hours. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft issued a 'Mayday' call moments after takeoff, after which radio contact was lost. Initial assessments suggest the possibility of multiple bird hits leading to engine failure, but officials stress that a detailed investigation will determine the exact cause. The DGCA, in an official statement, said: 'The aircraft crashed into a residential area five minutes after takeoff. A team comprising assistant directors of airworthiness and a flight operations inspector were already present in Ahmedabad and were collecting information at the site.' Emergency response teams, including seven fire engines and three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) units from Gandhinagar, swiftly reached the site. Three additional NDRF teams are being moved in from Vadodara to assist with rescue and relief efforts. Air India confirmed the crash on social media, stating: "Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, June 12, 2025. We are ascertaining details and will provide updates as soon as possible." The airline added that it is fully cooperating with the investigating authorities. According to flight tracker Flightradar24, the aircraft bore the registration VT-ANB and had earlier flown from Delhi to Ahmedabad the same day. The passenger manifest, accessed by India Today, lists 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. Among the passengers was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu is en route to Ahmedabad to assess the situation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep shock over the tragic Air India plane crash, describing the incident as 'heartbreaking beyond words.' 'The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. I have been in touch with ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected,' PM Modi said in a post on X on Thursday. Modi has directed authorities to initiate urgent rescue and relief measures. Further updates are awaited as investigation and rescue operations continue. Several global leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on Thursday expressed shock and grief. "The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating. I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time," Starmer posted on X. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also took to social media, offering his deepest condolences on the tragic accident. "Horrible news of a passenger plane crash in India. My deepest condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the entire people of India on this tragic day. Our thoughts are with all victims' relatives and close ones in India, the UK, Portugal, and Canada. We share your shock and grief on this tragic day. We all pray for as many lives to be saved as possible and wish a speedy recovery to those injured," Zelensky posted on X. Russia's Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov termed the accident as a major catastrophe. "Heartbreaking news is coming from Ahmedabad. My heartfelt sympathy to the families and near ones of the victims and to all Indian people and the Government of India over this tragic major catastrophe!" he said. SUNDAY TRIBUNE A plane enroute to London crashed in a residential area in Ahmedabad, India on Thursday Image: IANS
eNCA
10 hours ago
- eNCA
Air India says plane 'well-maintained' before crash
Air India's Boeing plane was "well-maintained" before it crashed a week ago, killing all but one of 242 people on board, the airline said on Thursday. Indian authorities are yet to detail what caused the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to hurtle to the ground in the western city of Ahmedabad a week ago. At least 38 people were killed in the residential neighbourhood that the plane hit, causing such devastation that DNA analysts are still trying to identify dozens of the dead. As investigators attempt to retrieve data from the plane's black boxes -- the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder -- the airline said no problems were detected with the jet before the disaster. "The plane was well-maintained, with its last major check in June 2023," Air India said in a statement. "Its right engine was overhauled in March 2025, and the left engine was inspected in April 2025. Both the aircraft and engines were regularly monitored, showing no issues before the flight," it said. The London-bound jet burst into a fireball when it smashed down in Ahmedabad moments after takeoff. Initial checks on Air India's Dreamliners since the crash "did not reveal any major safety concerns", the country's civil aviation regulator said on Tuesday. India's aviation investigative unit said on Thursday the probe was "progressing steadily". "Key recovery work, including site documentation and evidence collection, has been completed, and further analysis is now underway," the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said in a statement. - 'Highly experienced pilot' - Air India said there were 169 Indian passengers, 53 British, seven Portuguese and a Canadian on board the flight, as well as 12 crew members. The pilots were accomplished flyers, according to the airline. "The flight was led by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a highly experienced pilot and trainer with over 10,000 hours flying widebody aircraft," it said. "First Officer Clive Kunder had over 3,400 hours of flying experience." While investigators try to piece together what went wrong, many families of victims are still waiting for their loved ones to be identified. As of Thursday evening, 215 victims have been matched through DNA testing, all but nine of them passengers, according to the civil hospital's medical superintendent Rakesh Joshi. The remains of around 15 of them have been transported by air, Joshi told journalists. Six people injured in the disaster remain in hospital, with one due to be discharged shortly while the others are in a stable condition.
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- TimesLIVE
What you need to know about the Air India Boeing Dreamliner crash
The crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad city, killing all but one of the 242 people on board, is the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade. At least 30 people were also killed on the ground when the aircraft crashed into a medical college hostel near the airport. The crash poses a fresh challenge for Air India, which has long sought to become a "world-class airline", and Boeing, which is working to restore public trust after safety and production crises. A 59-second CCTV video clip, one of the strongest pieces of visual evidence, showed the takeoff and the crash. The descent of the plane starts roughly 17 seconds after takeoff. There is no fire visible around the engine or elsewhere when the plane appears to start going down. There were 169 Indians, 53 Britons, 7 Portuguese and one Canadian among the passengers on board, and 12 crew members were also on the plane. The only survivor was Viswashkumar Ramesh, 40, who was in seat 11A, near the emergency exit. Dozens of anxious family members are waiting to collect the bodies of loved ones as doctors work to gather dental samples and do DNA profiling to identify bodies badly charred. Air India and the Indian government are looking at issues linked to engine thrust, flaps and why the landing gear remained open. The black boxes, crucial to the crash probe, have been recovered.
