In a heartbreaking aviation disaster, Air India flight AI171, en route to London from Ahmedabad, crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12. Out of the 242 individuals on board, only one survived—leaving families across several nations in mourning.
A Journey Cut Short
The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off from Ahmedabad Airport at 1:38 PM local time. The aircraft was bound for London Gatwick Airport on what should have been a routine long-haul flight. But within moments of liftoff, the aircraft lost altitude and collided with a hostel building on the BJ Medical College campus, ending in a fiery wreck that claimed 241 lives.
Air India released a statement confirming the grim toll:
“Of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in hospital.”
The airline also clarified the passenger manifest, which included:
- 169 Indian nationals
- 53 British nationals
- 7 Portuguese nationals
- 1 Canadian national
Pilot’s Final Transmission
Preliminary reports indicate that the flight crew had just moments to react. According to the London Evening Standard, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar reportedly issued a desperate mayday call. The pilot is said to have radioed in, “no thrust… unable to lift,” when the aircraft was less than 650 feet above the ground.
Flight tracking data shows the aircraft lost contact mere seconds after takeoff, suggesting an immediate and catastrophic failure—possibly related to engine power.
Critical Evidence Recovered
