Air India Flight 171 Crash – June 12, 2025
On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, tragically crashed just two minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The aircraft was en route to London Gatwick Airport with 242 people on board, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members.
What Happened
- Takeoff: The flight departed at 1:38 PM IST.
- Crash: At 1:40 PM IST, the aircraft crashed into a medical college hostel in the Meghani Nagar area of Ahmedabad.
- Distress Call: Moments before the crash, the pilot issued a mayday call, reporting engine failure.
- Altitude: The aircraft had reached only 450 feet before losing power and descending rapidly.
Casualties
- Onboard deaths: 241 people were killed in the crash.
- Survivor: One passenger, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national, miraculously survived with minor injuries. He escaped through a rupture near an emergency exit.
- On the ground: At least 38 people in the hostel were also killed, and over 60 others were injured.
Preliminary Investigation
- Engine Failure: Early findings point to a catastrophic failure of both General Electric GEnx engines, which power the Dreamliner.
- RAT Deployment: Video footage showed the aircraft’s Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed mid-air, which only activates during a complete engine failure.
- Black Boxes: Both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered for analysis.
- Expert Input: Aviation experts believe the rapid sequence of mechanical failures left the pilots with little chance to recover.
Response and Impact
- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are leading a full inquiry.
- This is the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the deadliest aviation accident in India in recent decades.
The final investigation report is expected in the coming weeks, but the tragedy has already sparked global concern about engine safety protocols and emergency procedures.
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