Ahmedabad: A 17-year-old, Aryan, unwittingly became a key eyewitness to the horrific Air India AI171 plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday, his amateur video footage capturing the initial moments of the tragedy and rapidly spreading across social media.
The video, which offered the country its first glimpse of the devastating accident, shows the Boeing 787-7 Dreamliner losing control and erupting into a fireball in seconds. Aryan, who lives near Ahmedabad airport, was filming the plane when the disaster unfolded.
“The way the plane was lowering towards the ground, I thought it was landing at the airport, but the explosion cleared my misunderstanding,” he had told the media on Saturday.
“I always wished to fly in an aeroplane once in my life, but after what I saw, I don’t think I will be able to sit in one,” Aryan said.
The devastating crash claimed 241 lives from the 242 people on board the aircraft, plus another 29 on the ground, resulting in a total death toll of 270. The experience has left Aryan traumatised. In a statement to the media, he expressed his fear, stating, “I felt terrified… I was very nervous and still can’t talk properly.”
His sister described his emotional state since the accident, revealing that he repeatedly expressed a desire to leave their home due to the trauma, adding that he has been withdrawn, unable to eat or sleep. “Aryan showed me the video and told me he does not want to live here because it is dangerous. He is very scared. He is not able to sleep properly,” she said.
“When I came after the incident, I found that he was unable to speak. I assured him… he remained awake for the entire night. He has become quiet, not even eating anything,” she added.
His landlady corroborated these accounts, highlighting his visibly distressed condition and inability to speak coherently.
Rumours circulated online regarding Aryan’s detention following the video’s virality. The Ahmedabad Crime Branch swiftly issued a statement clarifying that Aryan, accompanied by his father, provided a statement and was subsequently released without arrest or any coercive action. The police emphasised that no one involved in recording or sharing the video faces charges.
The investigation into the crash itself is ongoing. The Ministry of Civil Aviation reported that the aircraft, only minutes after takeoff, managed to reach a height of just 650 feet before rapidly losing altitude and crashing into a medical hostel complex in Meghani Nagar. The black box has been recovered, and a comprehensive investigation is underway. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also launched a strict inspection process into the aircraft’s maintenance, safety protocols, and potential technical flaws.
