The aftermath of the Air India Flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad continues to unfold, with the recovery of the aircraft's tail section becoming a focal point in the ongoing investigation and rescue efforts. The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday, June 12, 2025, impacting a residential area and causing widespread devastation.
As of Saturday, June 14, 2025, rescue teams have successfully lifted the tail of the Air India plane from the crash site. The tail section had been lodged in the rooftop of a doctor's hostel near BJ Medical College in the Meghaninagar area, posing a significant challenge to recovery operations. The removal of the tail is a crucial step in the investigation, as it allows for a more thorough examination of the wreckage and the potential recovery of additional remains or critical evidence.
Tragically, the crash has resulted in a significant loss of life. The death toll has risen to at least 270, including passengers, crew members, and individuals on the ground. Among the latest developments, rescue teams recovered one more body from the wreckage of the tail section on Saturday. It's believed the individual was trapped in the hard-to-reach area. The ill-fated flight was carrying 242 people, comprising 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian, along with 12 crew members. Only one passenger, a British national named Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, survived the crash.
A multi-agency investigation is underway, involving the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Ahmedabad crime branch, and local police. Officials from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) also visited the site. The investigation aims to determine the cause of the crash and identify any factors that may have contributed to the accident.
The aircraft's black box, which contains the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, has already been recovered from the rooftop of the hostel building. This device is expected to provide valuable insights into the final moments of the flight, including any technical issues or communication breakdowns that may have occurred.
In the wake of the crash, Air India has announced additional compensation of ₹25 lakh to the families of the victims. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered enhanced safety inspections for Air India's entire Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 fleet to prevent any similar incidents in the future.
The Ahmedabad plane crash marks the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its commercial debut in 2011. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of the aircraft, although investigations are still ongoing to determine the exact cause of the crash.
