An Air India flight en route to London Gatwick from Ahmedabad, India, crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday, killing 241 of the 242 passengers and crew on board. The crash, which occurred in a densely populated residential area, has resulted in both on-board and ground casualties, although the full toll remains under investigation.
In an astonishing twist, only one passenger survived—a British national seated in 11A. The devastating accident has sparked an international outpouring of grief and a scramble to understand what went wrong.
Timeline of the Incident
When and Where the Crash Happened
-
Flight: Air India AI171
-
Departure: Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:39 local time (08:09 GMT)
-
Destination: London Gatwick Airport
-
Crash Site: Meghani Nagar, a residential area in Ahmedabad, near the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College and Civil Hospital.
According to FlightRadar24, the aircraft’s signal disappeared less than a minute after takeoff, with the last recorded altitude at just 625 feet (190 meters).
A mayday call was issued by the pilots, but communication was lost immediately after.
Ground Impact: The Local Toll
The plane struck a doctors’ hostel building on the hospital campus. Disturbing images show a massive hole in the building’s wall and scenes of chaos inside what was moments before a functioning canteen.
Eyewitnesses described panic as people jumped from upper floors to escape the fire. Emergency responders raced to the scene, rescuing survivors from the debris and battling flames.
Ahmedabad’s police chief, GS Malik, has warned that fatalities on the ground are likely, though numbers remain unconfirmed.
Passenger Manifest: Who Was on Board?
-
Total on Board: 242 (230 passengers, 12 crew)
-
Nationalities: 169 Indians, 53 Britons, 7 Portuguese, 1 Canadian
-
Sole Survivor: British passenger Vishwashkumar Ramesh, seated in 11A
Survivors’ Accounts
Ramesh told Indian media:
“Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.”
His brother, who was also on board, remains unaccounted for.
The tragedy has deeply affected the British-Gujarati community, with multiple families in Leicester and Blackburn mourning missing relatives.
Key Victims Identified
-
Gloucester Family: Akeel Nanabawa, Hannaa Vorajee, and their daughter Sara were reportedly on board.
-
Blackburn Family: Adam Taju (72), his wife Hasina (70), and their son-in-law Altafhusen Patel (51).
The Leicester East MP, Shivani Raja, confirmed that several Leicester residents were on the flight, calling the incident “horrifying and devastating.”
Aircraft Profile: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
The ill-fated plane was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a model introduced 14 years ago. This crash marks the first time the Dreamliner has gone down in this manner.
Boeing released a statement expressing condolences and confirmed they are assisting in the investigation.
Air India, which operates over 190 aircraft including 58 Boeing planes, has temporarily suspended operations at Ahmedabad Airport.
What Caused the Crash? Early Theories Emerge
Possible Wing Flap Failure
Preliminary analysis by aviation experts suggests wing flap retraction may have played a critical role. Footage indicates the landing gear was still deployed while the flaps appeared retracted—conditions that could prevent a plane from achieving the necessary lift.
-
Geoffrey Thomas (Aviation Analyst): Suggested the undercarriage was still down but the flaps were not deployed.
-
Terry Tozer (Former Pilot): Noted the apparent absence of flap deployment could explain the crash.
-
Marco Chan (Pilot & Lecturer): Cautioned the video resolution is too low to conclusively confirm this.
The Indian aviation regulator has launched a formal investigation, and black box data will be crucial in determining the exact cause.
Airline and Government Response
Air India’s Immediate Action
-
Set up emergency hotlines for families.
-
CEO Campbell Wilson issued a public apology and pledged full cooperation with investigators.
-
Tata Group (Air India’s parent company) announced compensation of 1 crore rupees (approximately £86,000) per victim’s family.
International Reactions
-
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi: “Stunned and saddened. Heartbreaking beyond words.”
-
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer: Called the crash “devastating” and confirmed the UK is working with Indian authorities.
-
The King and Queen Camilla: Expressed deep shock and praised emergency responders for their heroic efforts.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that the UK is working to support affected families and gather more details.
Next Steps
Authorities in India have promised swift and transparent investigations. Rescue and recovery efforts remain active, while forensic teams work to identify victims and piece together what led to the catastrophic failure.
The crash raises renewed concerns about aviation safety protocols, particularly regarding aircraft maintenance and pre-flight procedures.
This tragedy has sent shockwaves through India, the UK, and the global aviation community. As investigations unfold, families of the victims are left grieving and seeking answers to the harrowing question: How could this happen within seconds of takeoff?
More updates will follow as new information emerges.
