Ahmedabad, India – It was just past lunchtime when the quiet at a medical college in Ahmedabad was shattered by the roar of engines and the sound of disaster.
A Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated by Air India, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed moments after take-off on Thursday, ploughing into a student hostel and killing 241 people who including crew and 11 people on the ground and 3 students. Only one person survived Vishwash Kumar Ramesh a British national seemingly walking from the crash.
It is India’s worst aviation disaster in more than a decade and the deadliest crash worldwide involving the Dreamliner, a long-haul jet Boeing introduced in 2011.
“It All Happened So Quickly”
The lone survivor, 40-year-old Vishwashkumar Ramesh, spoke from his hospital bed.
“There was a loud noise just after take-off,” he told the press. “Then the plane dropped. When I came to, I saw bodies all around me. I just ran.”
Ramesh, a British citizen of Indian origin, had been seated in 11A, next to an emergency exit. He believes that detail saved his life. He is currently in critical but stable condition.
His brother, Ajay, was also on board. Ramesh has not heard from him since. “Please help me find him,” he said quietly.
A Devastating Impact
The crash site is a scene of destruction. Pieces of the aircraft’s fuselage lay strewn across the compound. The plane’s tail remains perched on the roof of the hostel building, where some students were eating lunch.
“We believe the death toll includes both passengers and people on the ground,” said Ahmedabad police chief G.S. Malik. Officials initially feared 294 had died, but later revised the number after body parts were miscounted.
Among the dead is Vijay Rupani, the former chief minister of Gujarat, according to police sources.
Relatives have been asked to provide DNA samples to help identify victims. “The process is slow and painful, but necessary,” said state health secretary Dhananjay Dwivedi.
Flight AI171 Was in the Air for Mere Seconds
The aircraft took off at 1:39 p.m. local time. Within seconds, air traffic controllers received a Mayday call. Then, silence. CCTV footage shows the plane flying low over rooftops before vanishing from view. Moments later, a fireball erupted from beyond the buildings.
“It looked like the plane was trying to land, not taking off,” said Anthony Brickhouse, a US-based aviation safety consultant. He pointed out that the aircraft’s landing gear appeared to be down at the time of impact a worrying sign.
Families Left Grieving Across Continents
The passenger list included 217 adults, 11 children and two infants. Most were Indian nationals, but 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian were also on board.
“My sister-in-law was on that plane,” said Poonam Patel, holding back tears at the city’s main hospital. “She was going to London for work. Then this.”
At the hostel, students leapt from windows to escape. One mother, Ramila, said her son jumped from the second floor and survived with injuries. “He called me right after it happened,” she said. “I thank God he’s alive.”
Leaders React as Investigation Begins
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hails from Gujarat, visited the crash site Friday. “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). “It is heartbreaking beyond words.”
In London, Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the crash “devastating.” King Charles is being kept updated, according to Buckingham Palace.
The US has offered investigative support. Boeing, the jet’s manufacturer, said a team of technical experts is heading to India. General Electric, which built the engines, will also assist.
Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said a high-level committee has been formed to determine what went wrong. “We will uncover the truth,” he promised.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg cancelled a planned appearance at the Paris Air Show, the aerospace industry’s marquee event, amid growing scrutiny.
Air India and Boeing Under the Microscope
The Dreamliner that crashed had been in service for more than a decade. Flight tracking data shows it first flew in 2013 and joined Air India’s fleet the following year.
It’s the first major crash for the 787-8 model. Boeing shares dropped 5% in the hours after news of the crash broke.
The incident comes at a sensitive time for the airline. Once state-owned, Air India was acquired by the Tata Group in 2022 and merged with Vistara in 2024, as part of efforts to modernise its ageing fleet and rebuild its reputation.
The last fatal air crash in India occurred in 2020, when an Air India Express flight overshot a runway in Kerala, killing 21 people.
A Nation in Mourning
Ahmedabad’s airport resumed limited operations late Thursday. But the grief across the city and the country is palpable.
Candles lit the sidewalks outside the hospital. People gathered in silence, many holding pictures of loved ones.
“We don’t want blame,” said Meera Shah, who lost her cousin in the crash. “We want answers and we want this never to happen again.”
About the Author
