Seventeen-year-old Aryan Asari, who inadvertently filmed the recent Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, is reportedly traumatized by the event, with the disaster having a "devastating impact" on the teenager. Aryan, a Class 12 student, had been visiting his father in Ahmedabad when he captured the tragic incident on video.
On June 12, 2025, Aryan had arrived at his father's residence and was captivated by the sight of low-flying aircraft near the airport. With the intention of sharing the spectacle with friends back home, he began recording a video of the planes passing overhead. However, his innocent endeavor took a horrifying turn when the Air India Dreamliner 787-8, operating as flight AI-171 to London, crashed shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, carrying 242 people, plummeted into the campus of BJ medical college, erupting into a massive fireball, killing 241 of them, along with several others on the ground.
Aryan's video, capturing the plane's final moments, quickly went viral, turning him into an accidental witness to a national tragedy. The footage has since become a crucial piece of visual evidence for investigators attempting to determine the cause of the crash.
The experience has profoundly affected Aryan, leaving him struggling with trauma and nightmares. According to reports, he was "pale" and "couldn't eat or speak for hours" after witnessing the disaster. The images of the burning aircraft, the ensuing chaos, and the helpless screams continue to haunt him.
"I just wanted to see a plane," Aryan reportedly whispered before leaving Ahmedabad. "Not watch one fall from the sky." He has since returned to his native village in Aravalli district to focus on his studies and escape the horrific memories.
The police recorded Aryan's statement. While confirming his role as an eyewitness, they dismissed rumors suggesting any arrest or detention related to the viral footage.
Aryan's family members have shared that he has been deeply affected by the incident and expressed a strong desire to move out of the area, which he now associates with danger and trauma. The teenager, who once dreamed of traveling by plane, now feels he "will never sit in an aeroplane."
The Air India crash has not only impacted Aryan but also brought back memories of past aviation tragedies in India. The Air India Flight 182 bombing in 1985, remains a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of terrorism. The flight, en route from Toronto to India via London, exploded over the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 329 people on board, most of whom were Canadian citizens. The bombing was linked to Sikh militants seeking an independent state in India. The incident prompted heightened security measures and a reevaluation of counter-terrorism policies in Canada and beyond.
