🛫 1. Flight Overview
- Flight: Air India AI 171
- Aircraft: Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, registration VT‑ANB, ~12 years old
- Route & Time: Departed Ahmedabad for London Gatwick, June 12, 2025, around 1:38 PM IST
- Crash Location: Approximately 30 seconds after takeoff, the plane crashed into the B.J. Medical College hostel, Meghani Nagar, Ahmedabad
👥 2. People Onboard
- Occupants: 242 total (230 passengers + 12 crew)
- Fatalities: 241 onboard; one British–Indian survivor
- Passenger Demographics: 169 Indians, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, 1 Canadian
💔 3. Sole Survivor
- Name: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh (British national of Indian origin)
- Details: Located in exit row 11A; reportedly ejected during breakup, found alive among wreckage
📉 4. Ground Casualties
- Deaths: At least 28–29 people on the ground — including medical students, faculty, and a pregnant woman
- Injuries: Over 60 ground injuries reported
⚠️ 5. Crash Timeline & Probable Cause
- Takeoff: Departed Ahmedabad runway 23 at ~1:38 PM IST
- Mayday: Crew issued a MAYDAY; communication ended shortly thereafter
- Descent: Reached ~625 ft (~190 m) before descending and crashing approximately 30 seconds after lift-off
- Initial Indicators: Eyewitness video shows power loss, rapid descent, and a fiery crash
🔧 6. Early Technical Clues
- Unusual Configuration: Reports suggest landing gear remained down and flaps were not retracted—highly abnormal during climb
- Mechanical Failure Suspicion: Investigators are reviewing possible engine issues, hydraulic or system fault
📦 7. Black Box & Investigation
- Recovery: Both flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recovered
- Investigators Involved: India’s AAIB leading probe, supported by the U.S. NTSB, UK AAIB, and manufacturer Boeing
🚨 8. Emergency Response
- First Responders: CISF, Ahmedabad Fire Service, NDRF, Indian Army, IAF, BSF, NSG, and police quickly deployed
- Scale: Over 500 personnel engaged; rescue hampered by intense fire and fuel-laden wreckage
- Airport Impact: Flights paused briefly; limited operations resumed later the same day
🌍 9. Global Reactions
- Political Leaders: PM Modi, UK PM Starmer, King Charles III, and others offered condolences
- Boeing Response: Boeing is cooperating with the investigation; its stock dropped approximately 4.7–4.8% in pre-market trading
🛠️ 10. Legacy & Context
- Historic Significance: Deadliest Indian air disaster in over a decade; first fatal crash involving Boeing 787 Dreamliner
- Air India Safety Record: Last major crash in 2020 (Kozhikode); airline under Tata-run modernization since 2022
🔍 11. What Lies Ahead
- Technical Review: In-depth evaluation of gear/flap systems, engine performance, and pre-flight checks
- Safety Measures: Enhanced oversight of maintenance, emergency protocols, and procedural checks
- Compensation & Support: Nationwide efforts to aid victims’ families; Boeing and Air India under pressure to deliver timely settlements
👤 1. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh
- Age: 40 years
- Nationality: British (of Indian origin)
- Role: Passenger (sole survivor), seated at exit row 11A
- Occupation: British citizen (specific profession not publicly detailed)
- Note: Stepped off safely after the crash; hospitalized with chest, facial, and foot injuries
👨✈️ 2. Capt. Sumeet Sabharwal
- Age: Approximately 55–56 years
- Role: Pilot in command (Captain of Flight AI 171)
- Occupation: Line Training Captain at Air India
- Flight Hours: ~8,200 hours
- Background: Mumbai resident; single; cared for elderly father; responsible for flight safety checks
🛫 3. First Officer Clive Kundar
- Age: Early 30s
- Role: First Officer (co-pilot on Flight AI 171)
- Occupation: Air India pilot
- Flight Hours: ~1,100 hours
- Background: Trained at Paris Air Inc., Florida; from Mangaluru, based in Mumbai; cousin of actor Vikrant Massey
🏥 4. Cabin Crew & Ground Individuals (identified examples)
- Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam
- Age: 21 years
- Role: Flight attendant, Air India cabin crew (2 years of service)
- Jamie Meek & Fiongal Greenlaw‑Meek
- Ages: Not specified (adult British nationals)
- Role: Passengers; British couple running “The Wellness Foundry”
- Status: Both tragically perished in the crash
🏛️ 5. Notable Fatality: Vijay Rupani
- Age: (Born in 1957 → around 68 years old in 2025)
- Role: Former Chief Minister of Gujarat (2016–2021)
- Status: Confirmed among the victims on board ti
✏️ Summary Table
| Name | Age | Role/Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Vishwash Kumar Ramesh | 40 | Passenger (sole survivor) |
| Capt. Sumeet Sabharwal | ~55–56 | Air India Captain (8,200 flight hours) |
| First Officer Clive Kundar | Early 30s | Air India First Officer (1,100 flight hrs) |
| Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam | 21 | Air India Flight Attendant |
| Jamie Meek & Fiongal Greenlaw‑Meek | Not specified | British couple, Wellness Foundry founders |
| Vijay Rupani | ~68 | Former Gujarat Chief Minister |
🔚 In Summary
The catastrophic crash of Air India Flight AI 171 on June 12, 2025, has stunned the aviation world. With 241 onboard fatalities and at least 28 on the ground, this remains India’s most harrowing air tragedy in recent memory. Key questions now focus on system failure, crew procedures, and whether urgent mechanical warnings were overlooked. The global investigative effort seeks not just causation—but crucial reforms to prevent repeat devastation.
