The Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, June 12, 2025. The devastating incident claimed the lives of 241 of the 242 passengers and crew on board. Among the victims were Mahadev Pawar, 68, and his wife, Asha, 60, an elderly couple from the Solapur district in Maharashtra. Their journey, meant to be a joyous reunion with their son in London, ended in tragedy.
Mahadev Pawar, a former textile mill worker in Nadiad, Gujarat, and Asha, were residents of Hatid village in Sangola tehsil. They had been living in Ahmedabad for several years, and this trip marked their first time flying. Their son, who resides in London, was eagerly awaiting their arrival. Unfortunately, their dreams were cut short when the Air India flight crashed minutes after takeoff.
The crash site became a scene of intense devastation. The aircraft plummeted into a residential area near B.J. Medical College, approximately 5 kilometers from the airport, igniting a massive explosion and fire. The impact was so severe that it caused significant damage to a hostel mess building, where over 100 students were gathered for lunch. While early reports suggested no survivors, authorities later confirmed that one passenger, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national, miraculously survived the crash and is currently receiving treatment at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.
The incident has sent shockwaves throughout India and the international community. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the survivor in the hospital, while government officials and Air India representatives are providing assistance to the families of the victims. A DNA collection center has been set up at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital to help identify the deceased, as relatives arrive from across the country.
Air India has confirmed the nationalities of those on board, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national. Among the other victims were former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, a family from Gloucester including a four-year-old child, and a wellness couple from London.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. Preliminary reports suggest that the landing gear remained extended and the flaps were not correctly configured during takeoff. Investigative teams from the UK and the US have arrived in Ahmedabad to assist the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered enhanced safety inspections of Air India's Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet.
