Our Bureau
Ahmedabad
In one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent Indian history, Air India Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed just 36 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport last week. The aircraft, carrying 242 people—including 230 passengers, two pilots, and 10 crew members—plummeted into a densely populated residential area in the Meghaninagar neighbourhood, causing widespread devastation and claiming the lives of all but one on board, as well as at least 33 people on the ground.
The crash, which occurred at 1:39 pm local time on June 12, 2025, left the hostel block of B.J. Medical College severely damaged, with many young medical students among the victims. The only survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national, remains hospitalized in critical condition. The tragedy has sent shockwaves across the nation and the international aviation community.
Authorities have now recovered both critical flight recorders—the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and the Flight Data Recorder (FDR)—popularly known as “black boxes,” despite their bright orange color. These devices, designed to survive high-impact crashes, are expected to provide investigators with crucial insights into the final moments of the flight. The CVR captures audio from the cockpit, including conversations between the pilots, air traffic control communications, and ambient sounds such as alarms and engine noise. The FDR records a multitude of flight parameters, from altitude and airspeed to control inputs and system statuses.
Initial reports indicate that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal issued a distress call just seconds before impact, reportedly stating, “Mayday, mayday… no power… no thrust…” This has led investigators to focus on possible engine or power system failures as potential causes, though no definitive conclusions have been reached. Other theories under consideration include electrical failure, maintenance issues, or a dual bird strike affecting both engines.
The Indian government has launched a comprehensive inquiry into the crash, with parallel investigations by the United States’ National Transportation Safety Board, given the aircraft’s American origin. Experts from Boeing are also assisting local authorities in Ahmedabad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and hospital, expressing condolences to the bereaved families and directing ongoing rescue and relief efforts
