Here’s a comprehensive overview of the Air India Flight AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad:
🛩️ What happened
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Flight details: On June 12 2025 at 13:38 IST, Air India flight AI 171 (Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, tail VT‑ANB) departed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (Ahmedabad) en route to London Gatwick (en.wikipedia.org).
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Crash: Just under 30 seconds after takeoff, at an altitude of about 625 ft, the aircraft stalled, descended, and crashed into a students' hostel and doctors' quarters at B.J. Medical College, Meghaninagar neighbourhood (en.wikipedia.org).
⚠️ Casualties & Survivor
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Onboard: 242 occupants (230 passengers, 12 crew). Tragically, 241 lost their lives; one passenger survived — Viswashkumar Ramesh, a British-Indian in seat 11A (en.wikipedia.org).
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Ground casualties: At least 28 people were killed on the ground, with dozens more injured, including students in the hostel courtyard (en.wikipedia.org).
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Total: Minimum 269 fatalities and 60+ injuries (en.wikipedia.org).
👤 Survivor’s account
Viswashkumar Ramesh survived miraculously. He described the plane struggling to climb, lights flickering, and impact on the building. Seat 11A landed on the ground floor with enough space after the door was sheared off. He unbuckled and escaped through the opening (npr.org).
🔍 Investigation & Technical Focus
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Black boxes: The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) was recovered June 13; the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) status is pending (apnews.com).
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Primary areas under review: Engine thrust, flap configuration, landing gear position, and weight/temperature input variables (apnews.com).
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Regulatory actions: The DGCA ordered one-time take-off parameter checks and enhanced inspections across all Air India Boeing 787‑8/9s using GE GEnx engines starting June 15 (reuters.com).
📱 Response & Aftermath
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Rescue efforts: NDRF, CRPF, army, CISF, municipal teams, and sniffer dogs mobilized for search, recovery, and medical support (en.wikipedia.org).
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Identification: Bodies badly charred, DNA profiling underway; crash site visited by PM Modi, who met the survivor and expressed deep sorrow (apnews.com).
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Air India & Boeing: Air India (now under Tata) pledged full cooperation and support. Boeing, GE Aerospace, and U.S. agencies are assisting investigation (reuters.com).
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Global response: Leaders in India and the UK conveyed condolences. Boeing’s stock dropped ~5% after the crash (reuters.com).
📋 Flight & Aircraft specifics
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Route: Ahmedabad → London Gatwick.
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Aircraft: Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, delivered in 2014. The first fatal crash of a 787 since entering service in 2009
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Occupants: 169 Indians, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, 1 Canadian on board
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India’s worst single-plane air disaster — 269+ killed.
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Boeing 787’s first fatal crash, raising safety concerns.
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Survivor escape highlights the chaos and fragility of the accident.
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Investigation led by India’s AAIB, with international cooperation.
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Regulatory response may impact fleet inspections and future operations.
