It has been one year since the tragic Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent history. The accident occurred on June 12, 2025, involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick Airport.
The aircraft took off from Runway 23 at 1:38 p.m. Shortly after take-off, the fuel control switches for both engines reportedly moved from the “run” position to the “cut-off” position. Just 32 seconds after becoming airborne, the aircraft lost power and crashed.
The flight was carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The aircraft crashed into a hostel building of BJ Medical College, located about 1.7 kilometres from the airport.
A total of 241 people on board were killed, including all 12 crew members and 229 passengers. Among the victims was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. Remarkably, 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, seated in emergency-exit seat 11A, was the sole survivor of the crash.
The impact also caused casualties on the ground. Nineteen people, including students, doctors, and passers-by present in and around the hostel building, lost their lives.
One year later, questions surrounding the exact cause of the disaster continue to generate discussion, and the circumstances that led to the crash remain a subject of investigation and scrutiny.
