At least 265 people lost their lives when Air India Flight AI171, bound for London, plummeted shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on the afternoon of June 12, 2025. The heart-wrenching tragedy—India’s deadliest aviation disaster—left only one survivor among the 242 souls on board. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner tore into a medical college hostel, sparking a massive blaze that engulfed the building.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ahmedabad on the morning of June 13 to assess the situation, offering condolences and coordinating relief efforts. He is scheduled to visit those injured in local hospitals, demonstrating the government’s commitment to supporting victims’ families and survivors.
The ill-fated aircraft carried 230 passengers—including 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese citizens, and a Canadian—alongside 12 crew members. Among the victims was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, marking a tragic loss for both the state and the nation. The sole survivor, seated in 11A, is identified as Vishwaskumar Ramesh, whose miraculous escape from the inferno is nothing short of astonishing.
The crash occurred during the lunch hour, inflicting additional casualties on the ground as the jet’s fuselage smashed into a hostel block. Rescue teams reported on-site temperatures soaring to 1,000 °C, fueled by the explosion of over 125,000 litres of jet fuel. Union Home Minister Amit Shah lamented the fire’s intensity, stating it made “saving lives impossible.”
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that Flight AI171 issued a Mayday call moments before contact was lost. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has launched a formal probe under international aviation protocols to determine the cause, whether mechanical failure or deliberate sabotage.
In a show of solidarity, the Tata Group has pledged Rs. 1 crore in compensation for each bereaved family, underscoring corporate responsibility in this unprecedented calamity.
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