The crash of Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, shortly after takeoff on June 12, 2025, has left the world in shock. Of the 242 passengers and crew on board, only one survived: Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin. The disaster, which occurred near Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, has prompted investigations into the cause and left many wondering how Ramesh managed to survive against all odds.
The flight went down in the Meghaninagar area, striking a multi-story hostel housing resident doctors of BJ Medical College. The impact ignited a massive fire, exacerbated by the aircraft's full fuel load for the long-haul journey. Among the casualties were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national. Also killed were five medical students, one PG resident doctor, and the wife of a superspecialist doctor residing in the hostel.
Amidst the devastation, the miraculous survival of Vishwashkumar Ramesh has become a focal point. Seated in 11A, located in the first row of economy class behind the business cabin and near the emergency exits on the left side of the plane, Ramesh found himself in a section of the aircraft that collapsed into the ground floor of the hostel. He recounted that "The side where I was seated fell into the ground floor of the building. There was some space. When the door broke, I saw that space and I just jumped out."
Ramesh's account and photos from the crash site confirm that the forward fuselage partially broke off before catching fire, creating a narrow escape path. While the midsection and tail of the plane were reduced to rubble, the area around seat 11A offered a glimmer of hope. He described unbuckling himself and pushing through an opening to crawl out of the wreckage. "I don't know how I came out of it alive," Ramesh told Doordarshan. "For a while, I thought I was about to die. But when I opened my eyes, I saw I was alive. And I opened my seat belt and got out of there. The airhostess and aunty uncle all died before my eyes."
Currently, Ramesh is under 24-hour monitoring in Ward B7 of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. Despite multiple injuries, doctors have stated that he is out of danger. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited him in the hospital, inquiring about the incident.
The crash's aftermath has triggered a multi-faceted response. India's civil aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, expressed his shock and devastation. Emergency services, including fire engines, ambulances, and NDRF teams, were quickly deployed. The Gujarat ATS has recovered a DVR from the crash site, and the black box has been found on a hostel rooftop. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a formal investigation into the crash.
Experts suggest several potential causes for the crash, including engine failure, a bird strike, or a problem with the wing's position. Video footage indicates the plane had its landing gear down and flaps up at an inappropriate time during the flight. Data from Flight Radar showed the jet reaching a maximum altitude of 625 feet before descending rapidly.
The incident marks the first crash of a Boeing 787 model since it entered service in 2011, adding pressure on Boeing as it seeks to rebuild trust after previous crashes involving its 737 MAX aircraft. In the wake of the tragedy, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered enhanced safety inspections of Air India's Boeing 787 aircraft, and India is considering grounding its Boeing 787-8 fleet.
