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Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Key questions in the Air India crash
It was meant to be a routine flight from India to the UK - but just 30 seconds after take-off, flight AI171 was reduced to a blazing inferno. It's been six days since the Air India plane bound for Gatwick Airport shattered into pieces after smashing into a medical staff hostel close to Ahmedabad airport, killing 242 passengers and crew - everyone except one miraculous survivor, Londoner Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, sitting in seat 11A. Another 38 people died on the ground, but that number is expected to rise as the search for bodies continues. Meanwhile, the world is still waiting for answers, with some making lurid claims of a government cover-up. So what really happened that day in Ahmedabad? Here are the key questions demanding answers: When will we get information from the 'black box'? Investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) on Monday. The flight data recorder (FDR), which logs crucial flight parameters such as altitude, speed and engine performance, had been recovered from the debris on Friday. Together, the CVR and FDR form what is commonly known as the 'black box' of a plane. It is a vital tool in air crash investigations, helping experts reconstruct the flight's final moments. The Dreamliner's black box has now been taken to a laboratory in New Delhi. Typically, preliminary data from black boxes is available within one to two weeks. But in this case, rescue workers have indicated that it was severely damaged by the impact and the ferocious fire that followed the crash, meaning it could take several weeks before any data is recovered. What caused the crash? Investigators are focusing on a number of key areas. These include: double engine failure, problems with the plane's wing flaps, and a landing gear issue. A double engine failure, normally caused by fuel contamination or clogging, is an extremely rare occurrence and questions are being asked about the maintenance of refuelling equipment and where fuel is stored at the airport. Another possibility raised by some experts in India is that birds may have collided with the plane moments after take-off. This can be catastrophic, especially if they are sucked into the engines. Gujarat state, where Ahmedabad is located, reported 462 bird strike incidents over five years, with most occurring at Ahmedabad airport according to Indian government figures from December 2023. Who were the pilots and could they be to blame? The pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, had over 8,000 hours of flying experience. The co-pilot, Clive Kunder, 34, had about 1,000 hours. According to sources, investigators are closely analysing the trajectory of the plane following take off. It crashed around 30 seconds after leaving the runway when it climbed to an altitude of 625 feet, but videos widely circulating on social media show it as if it was landing. This has led some to speculate that its flaps, which are vital for generating maximum lift, might not have been properly extended, causing it to dramatically drop. Is the Indian government trying to cover up reasons behind the disaster? Indian investigators have been reluctant to comment publicly on the areas they are examining but a source revealed: 'Nothing is off the table as far as this investigation is concerned and that includes human error. That is a difficult thing to do given the nature of this accident and the huge loss of life but for the sake of the country, we have to properly establish what occurred.' The investigation is being viewed as particularly sensitive because of the impact it may have on India's wider image. Over the past two decades the nation of 1.4 billion people has gone from being viewed as a somewhat chaotic, disorganised country to one that is the world's fifth largest economy and a major political power that holds its own in the international area. Who is leading the investigation? The investigation is being led by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), a government run body that investigates domestic air accidents. But a number of organisations from outside of the country are also involved as under international aviation protocols they have the right to participate if they have a connection to the aeroplane or its passengers. Among those who visited the crash site this week were officials from America's National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as the Boeing 787 jet and its engines were manufactured in the US. Officials from Britain's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are also in India and inspected the crash site following the death of 52 British nationals in the accident. Separately, a high-level committee set up by the Indian government to examine the reasons behind the crash is expected to hold its first meeting next week. It will submit a preliminary report within three months and propose new standard operating procedures to help prevent similar incidents in future. Are Dreamliner planes safe to fly now? Before the Ahmedabad disaster, there had been no fatalities tied to the Dreamliner model. But over the past 14 years since they have been flying there have been numerous concerns and claims by whistleblowers over their safety. Former Boeing employee John Barnett, who worked for the company for more than 30 years at its North Charleston plant in the US, where the jet is built, claimed that sub-standard parts were deliberately fitted to prevent production delays. Former Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour revealed that he raised concerns about 'manufacturing shortcuts' only to be told to 'shut up' by his bosses. Following his claims, the company is being investigated by America's FAA. Since last week's crash, Air India has revealed that it had cancelled five international flights it operates using a 787-8 Dreamliner. On Tuesday, the flight on the same route as the plane that crashed was cancelled because of 'precautionary checks'. A flight from Gatwick to Amritsar, in north India, set to depart at 8pm UK time was also axed. And an Air India flight bound for Delhi from Hong Kong turned back after the pilot suspected a technical issue. Does the lone survivor hold any clues? Mr Ramesh is the only witness to what happened inside the plane. He was interviewed in hospital, revealing: 'When the flight took off, within five to ten seconds it felt like it was stuck in the air. Suddenly, the lights started flickering - green and white - then the plane rammed into some establishment that was there. 'When I saw the exit, I thought I could come out. I tried, and I did. Maybe the people who were on the other side of the plane weren't able to.' He added: 'I don't know how I survived. I saw people dying in front of my eyes - the air hostesses, and two people I saw near me … I walked out of the rubble.' Meanwhile, his relatives insist that Mr Ramesh does not hold the key to investigations. Nayan, his brother, revealed that Vishwash 'has no idea how he survived', or how he managed to exit the plane. Why is there such tight control around him? The political and national sensitivities related to the air crash are perhaps best underlined by how Mr Ramesh and his family have been treated over the past few days. Within 24 hours of the accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Mr Ramesh in hospital. After that, the media were prevented from speaking to him and he was effectively put under armed guard. Inside the ward where he is being treated, which is usually reserved for VIPs, around eight officers from the Indian police's Crime Branch department have been put on duty and have been restricting who comes to see him or who he speaks to. Around six other officers stand outside checking the identities of anybody entering. His relatives claim that they are facing a virtual clampdown by Indian officials concerned about the impact the accident could have on the country's image. One revealed that they have been refused permission to see him in recent days and that even his parents, who flew out from the UK over the weekend to be with him, were only allowed to stay for an hour. Another said: 'A lot of restrictions have been placed on the family and we are not free to come and go. Some of the relatives that were at the hospital were ordered to leave. We've been warned not to speak about him or what happened and that there will be serious consequences if we do.' One said: 'He was just a passenger who got unbelievably lucky, so we don't understand why he and his family are being treated like this. Anything they have to say will not help the authorities understand why the plane crashed.' Why have relatives of British victims claimed they are not being supported? Following the crash, dozens of relatives of Britons who died have arrived in India to provide DNA samples so that the bodies of their loved ones can be identified. In searing temperatures, they have been gathering outside a building in the Civil Hospital, the largest in Ahmedabad, patiently waiting to go inside as volunteers hand out water to help keep them cool. The absence of any British officials is noticeable, prompting anger that little is being done to help them. The Foreign Office has set up a support centre operated by around five British officials sent out from London soon after the accident to provide 'consular and emotional assistance'. But it is located in a hidden office in a hotel close to Ahmedabad airport and few relatives of the British crash victims know about it. When the Daily Mail visited, there were no relatives present, staff sat around chatting and there was no signage as to how to get to the centre. There have also been complaints about the length of time it has taken for relatives to receive the bodies of their loved ones and British relatives have called on the UK to help speed up the process. Hamzah Nanabawa, whose brother, sister-in-law and their four-year-old daughter were killed in the crash, told media: 'We're not asking for miracles – we're asking for presence, for compassion, for action. Right now, we feel utterly abandoned.' He added: 'There is no UK leadership in India, no medical team and no crisis professionals stationed at the hospital.' What now for Air India and Boeing? Air India was previously owned by the Indian government and had a terrible reputation for red tape, poor service and financial woes, losing millions of pounds annually. In 2021 it was bought by the Tata Group, one of India's most powerful business houses which is worth close to £315 billion. It has extensive interests across the world including Britain where it owns Jaguar Land Rover, Tetley, steel maker Corus and British Salt. But despite being owned by a private company, Air India is still considered the country's national carrier. At the time of the takeover, it had losses of close to £750 million but the airline has shown signs of revival under private ownership with new aircraft ordered and services improved but according to latest figures, it is still running at a loss of over £400 million per annum. Last week's crash could have catastrophic financial implications for the airline. It has already announced compensation of close to £100,000 for the families of each passenger but could also face paying out substantially more in damages if it is found that the crash was the result of negligence.
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First Post
2 days ago
- Business
- First Post
Air India to cut 15% of widebody international flights amid Dreamliner safety inspections
Air India said on Wednesday it will cut international operations on its widebody aircraft by 15% for the next few weeks, citing ongoing safety inspections and operational disruptions following last week's deadly crash of one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners read more Members of Indian Army's engineering arm prepare to remove the wreckage of an Air India aircraft, bound for London's Gatwick Airport, which crashed during take-off from an airport in Ahmedabad, June 14, 2025. Reuters File Air India said on Wednesday it will cut international operations on its widebody aircraft by 15% for the next few weeks, citing ongoing safety inspections and operational disruptions following last week's deadly crash of one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Authorities continue to investigate the crash of flight AI171, which killed 241 people and marked the world's deadliest aviation disaster in a decade. The airline said in a statement that inspections had been completed on 26 of its 33 Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft, and those 26 have been cleared for service. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The cuts, effective until at least mid-July, were being implemented 'to ensure stability of operations, better efficiency and minimise inconvenience to passengers,' the Tata Group-owned airline said. The remaining planes will be checked in the coming days and additional checks are also planned for its Boeing 777 fleet, Air India added. Flight AI171, bound for London's Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing all but one on board and about 30 people on the ground. Earlier on Wednesday, Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran said the flight that crashed had a clean engine history. In an interview with Indian broadcaster Times Now, Chandrasekaran said Air India flight 171's right engine was new and installed in March 2025, and that the left engine was last serviced in 2023. The Dreamliner was fitted with GE Aerospace's GEnx engines. Air India also cited geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and 'night curfews in many European and East Asian airspaces' as contributing factors behind flight cancellations, which have totaled 83 over the past six days.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Ahmedabad plane crash survivor discharged from hospital, attends brother's cremation in Diu
Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the Air India plane crash, has been discharged from the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital following his recovery, and he later attended the cremation of his deceased brother, who was flying with him on the same aircraft, officials said on Wednesday (June 18, 2025). Mr. Ramesh, a 40-year-old British businessman from Leicester, was discharged on Tuesday evening, they said. Lone survivor of Ahmedabad plane crash recalls horror The mortal remains of his brother Ajay were handed over to the family in the early hours of Wednesday after a DNA test confirmed his identity, Ahmedabad Civil Hospital's medical superintendent, Dr. Rakesh Joshi told reporters. "Vishwas' family has already arrived here from the United Kingdom. Following his recovery, we gave discharge to Vishwas at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday and his brother's mortal remains were also handed over to the family after a DNA match," he said. Vishwas and Ajay, who were natives of Diu, were heading back to London after spending some time with their family members in the Union Territory. Vishwas carries brother's mortal remains In a video that surfaced on social media, Mr. Ramesh can be seen carrying his brother's mortal remains on his shoulders to the cremation ground in Diu, a district of the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Local officials confirmed that Ajay was cremated at Diu by his family on Wednesday morning and Mr. Ramesh was also present there. A day after the crash, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Mr. Ramesh at the civil hospital and enquired about his health. Fateful flight, miraculous escape In an interview to Doordarshan earlier, Mr. Ramesh said the aircraft had stalled within seconds of taking off from Ahmedabad on its nine-hour journey to London's Gatwick Airport. According to Mr. Ramesh, his seat, 11A, was close to the emergency door on the left side of the plane. "Luckily, the portion of the plane where I was seated fell on the ground floor of the hostel premises after the plane crash landed. When I saw that the door of the plane was broken, I told myself that I can try and get out. Eventually, I came out of the plane," he had told reporters. In a viral video shot by a local immediately after the crash, Mr. Ramesh can be seen walking towards the ambulance after getting hurt in the crash. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 persons on board crashed into a medical college complex in Ahmedabad moments after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.39 pm on June 12.
Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
PM Modi meets UK PM Keir Starmer on the sidelines of G7 Summit in Canada – ‘exceptional conversation'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had an 'exceptional conversation' with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the 51st G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada on Tuesday night (local time). The two nations will keep working together to add even more momentum to this wonderful friendship, Modi said after the meeting. "An exceptional conversation with Prime Minister Keir Starmer! India and UK ties are getting stronger, reflected in the ground we've covered in areas like trade and commerce. We will keep working together to add even more momentum to this wonderful friendship," PM Modi posted on X. The meeting between the two leaders comes in the wake of the tragic Air India crash, which claimed British lives, casting a sombre backdrop to the interaction between the two leaders. Both sides are expected to remain in close coordination as investigations continue. All passengers – except one – on board the Air India flight bound for London Gatwick Airport that crashed shortly after take-off from Gujarat's Ahmedabad airport on 12 June afternoon died. There were 242 passengers and crew on board the plane, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. One passenger, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, miraculously survived the crash. India and the UK signed a India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in May 2025, marking a significant step between the two economies amid ongoing global trade volatility and tariff uncertainties. UK is India's 4th largest export destination and India is UK's 11th largest trading partner. The bilateral trade of about USD 60 billion is projected to double by 2030. It is India's 16th FTA, and the UK's most significant bilateral trade deal post-Brexit. The FTA grants zero-duty access for 99% of Indian exports to the UK, including textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, marine products, sports goods, toys, gems and jewellery, auto parts, engineering goods, and organic chemicals. Automobiles tariffs cut to 10% under a quota, down from over 100% . It also promotes labour mobility. About 100 additional annual visas for Indian professionals, particularly in IT and healthcare. India and the UK also signed a Double Contribution Convention Agreement (also called a Social Security Agreement) as one of the key aspects of the deal. It will ensure that professionals in either country are not forced to pay national insurance or social security contributions in both countries. Earlier in the day, PM Modi arrived at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge to participate in the high-level G7 Summit, where he is scheduled to hold multiple bilateral meetings and discuss pressing global issues. Canadian PM Mark Carney received PM Modi as he arrived at the venue of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. This marks his sixth consecutive participation in the G7 Summit and his first visit to Canada in a decade. PM Modi received a ceremonial welcome at the Calgary airport, where India's acting high commissioner, Chinmoy Naik, was among those who received him. An exceptional conversation with Prime Minister Keir Starmer! India and UK ties are getting stronger, reflected in the ground we've covered in areas like trade and commerce. The Prime Minister arrived in Canada after concluding his visit to Cyprus. PM Modi's visit to Canada marks a significant moment in bilateral ties following a phase of strained diplomatic relations. He headed to Croatia from Canada for the third and final leg of his five-day foreign tour.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Air India Boeing 787 Flight on Same London-Bound Route Canceled 5 Days After Catastrophic Crash That Left Over 290 Dead
An Air India flight traveling from Ahmedabad, India, to London was canceled just days after the Air India flight crash Flight 159, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was cancelled on Tuesday, June 17 due to 'unavailability of the aircraft," according to Air India This came after the Air India flight leaving from the same location crashed on June 12 likely leaving over 290 people deadAn Air India flight traveling from Ahmedabad, India, to London was canceled just days after the high fatality Air India flight crash seemingly took the lives of over 290 people on the same flight plan. London Gatwick Airport, the final destination of the flight, reported it as "canceled." Per Sky News, the airline confirmed that the cancellation of flight 159, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was due to 'unavailability of the aircraft.' The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is the same make and model of aircraft as the crashed flight. An Air India spokesperson denied technical issues, telling Sky News that the unavailability of the aircraft resulted 'from airspace restrictions and additional precautionary checks, leading to longer than usual turnaround of aircraft.' "We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers and have made alternative arrangements to fly them to their destination," Air India continued. This came after The Times reported that the same flight was traveling from New Delhi to Ahmedabad ahead of the London flight when it was forced to turn back following a "technical glitch." News18 reported that another Air India flight from Delhi to Paris had also been canceled on Tuesday due to technical issues. PEOPLE has contacted Air India for comment. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Per flight tracker Flight Aware, the Air India 159 is now on route to London Gatwick and is scheduled to arrive four hours 20 minutes late. The disruption comes after over 290 people have likely died after an Air India flight crashed minutes after takeoff into a hostel at a medical college on June 12. One out of 242 passengers and crew on board survived the crash of the flight that was traveling from Ahmedabad Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 p.m. local time to London Gatwick. The survivor, who is currently hospitalized, was a British national of Indian origin. "The passengers comprised 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals and 1 Canadian national," the airline said at the time. "Air India offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased," the company added. "Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected, their families and loved ones." Read the original article on People
