A harrowing video has emerged showing the immediate aftermath of the Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad, India, capturing the desperate attempts of students to escape the burning B. J. Medical College hostel. The footage reveals students jumping from balconies as smoke billows from the building, a testament to the chaos and fear that gripped the scene following the crash on June 12, 2025.
Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport, slamming into the hostel block of B. J. Medical College in the Meghaninagar neighborhood. The disaster claimed the lives of 241 passengers and crew members on board, with only one survivor, a British national seated near an emergency exit, miraculously escaping the wreckage. On the ground, at least 38 people, including medical students and staff, were killed, and many more injured.
Eyewitness accounts paint a picture of sheer pandemonium. Survivors described a massive explosion followed by thick plumes of smoke engulfing the hostel. The crash site, also known as 'Old IGP Campus', housed residential quarters for MBBS students and resident doctors of BJ Medical College affiliated with the Civil Hospital. The impact was so severe that parts of the aircraft, including the tail section, became embedded in the hostel building.
The video circulating online shows students climbing down from balconies and jumping to escape the rapidly spreading fire and smoke. One second-year resident doctor, Tarun, recounted having to jump from his balcony to survive, sustaining injuries in the process. Other survivors described being trapped by the intense fire, with escape routes quickly becoming impassable.
The aftermath of the crash has left the B. J. Medical College campus scarred, both physically and emotionally. Images from the scene show the dining area of the hostel, where many students were having lunch at the time of the crash, littered with debris, personal belongings, and aircraft wreckage. The hostel complex has been shut down, exams postponed, and many students have returned home, grappling with the trauma of the event.
The Indian government has launched a high-level investigation into the crash, with assistance from teams from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and the U.K. The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered and are expected to provide crucial insights into the cause of the accident. Investigators will be examining various factors, including potential engine failure, wing flap settings, and the accuracy of data inputted by the flight crew.
In the wake of the tragedy, Air India has been ordered to conduct additional safety checks on all its Boeing 787 aircraft. Meanwhile, families of the victims are facing the agonizing task of identifying their loved ones, with DNA testing being conducted to identify the remains, many of which were charred beyond recognition due to the intense heat of the fire.
The Air India Flight 171 crash has not only brought immense grief and devastation to the families of the victims but has also raised serious questions about aviation safety and the proximity of residential areas to airports. As investigations continue, the focus remains on providing support to the survivors and the bereaved, and on ensuring that such a tragedy never happens again.
