New Delhi: When Syed Inayat Ali boarded Air India Flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London on June 12, it was supposed to be the end of a heartwarming family visit. He had travelled to India with eight members of his family to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha in their home in Gujarat. But joy turned to devastation in mere seconds. Just after takeoff, the plane crashed into a residential block near BJ Medical College, killing 241 people onboard and dozens on the ground.
Of the 242 people on board, 241 were confirmed dead, making it one of the worst aviation disasters in India’s history and the deadliest since 1996. The sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin seated in 11A near an emergency exit, escaped with injuries and was treated at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.
That apart, at least eight people on the ground, including four medical students, were killed when the plane crashed into the hostel. The total death toll is estimated to be over 240, with some reports suggesting up to 300, though exact numbers are still being verified due to challenges with body identification. DNA testing is ongoing to confirm identities.
The passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian national. Notable victims included Vijay Rupani, former Chief Minister of Gujarat and a British family from Gloucester (Akeel Nanabawa, Hannaa Vorajee and their four-year-old daughter Sara).
The cause of the Ahmedabad Air India crash is under investigation, with possible factors including dual engine failure from bird strikes or fuel issues and a loss of lift due to flap or software problems. The Boeing 787, piloted by Capt. Sumeet Sabharwal and FO Clive Kunder, issued a MAYDAY before crashing at low altitude.
One black box has been recovered. The AAIB, NTSB, and UK investigators are probing the incident. Rescue efforts are complete, with 1,000 DNA tests underway. PM Modi called the crash heartbreaking. Air India launched helplines and relief flights. Ahmedabad airport briefly shut, resuming limited operations on June 12.
