Crash of Air India Flight En Route to London Gatwick: Current Insights

A bloody disaster unfolded in the skies over India today when Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, plummeted to the ground minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport.

Initial reports suggest that at least 242 souls perished in the catastrophe, with others still feared trapped inside debris. The wreckage primarily landed in a residential neighborhood called Meghaninagar, traumatizing the local community[1].

If you're seeking live updates on this tragic event, you can follow our dedicated coverage at this link.

Remarkably, among the wreckage, one survivor has been identified – British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh. Miraculously, he contacted family members just two minutes after the crash, speaking of the miraculous immediacy of his escape[2].

Now let us touch upon what we've learned about the tragic event so far:

Where did the plane crash?

Based on flight-tracking site Flightradar, the stricken aircraft reached a height of 625ft before crashing within seconds of leaving the runway[2]. The tragic descent occurred in a residential area, hitting the BJ Medical College's student quarters[2].

Who was on board?

According to Air India, the doomed flight carried 53 British nationals, 169 Indian nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian[2]. Tragically, three British citizens have been confirmed deceased, all members of the same family[2]. Reports claim that Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, another British citizen, is the only known survivor.

What caused the crash?

Although the investigation is in its early stages, analysts are scrutinizing various aspects of the aircraft's engines, flaps, and landing gear to identify what may have gone tragically wrong[3]. Early speculation has pointed to the possibility of poor engine performance or an unusual failure to retract the landing gear, but no definitive answers have yet surfaced[1][3].

Currently, rescuers are searching the crash site for survivors and recovering vital data from both black boxes to piece together the events of that ill-fated flight[3].

How has the UK responded?

In response to this horrific event, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered condolences and is monitoring the situation closely[2]. Similarly, Foreign Secretary David Lammy has convened a COBRA meeting to coordinate Britain's response[2]. The British public and government await updates on those still missing, including the remaining family members of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh.

Air India Background

Air India, the nation's flagship carrier, is a privately held company majority-owned by the Tata Group, the famous Indian conglomerate that also owns the likes of Tata Motors and Tata Steel[4]. The Tata Group's Air India is the vessel through which they joined forces with Singapore Airlines last October to consolidate their aviation assets[4]. Officially launched in 1932, the airline has a long and complex history, initially under state control before its sale to the Tata Group in 2022[4].

Because Air India is privately owned and not publicly traded, its financial performance remains obscure to the general public. The Tata Group, too, keeps its internal operations unlisted and away from immediate view.

Despite Air India's semi-secretive business practices, the airline operates a fleet of more than 208 aircraft and offers connections to over 90 domestic and international locations[4].

Past plane crashes in India

Sadly, Air India has experienced several calamitous incidents in the past, including fatal accidents and non-fatal incidents such as engine troubles, as recently as January 2025[4].

Everyone hopes that the investigators and authorities will soon uncover the underlying causes of this latest calamity so that steps can be taken to prevent such disasters from recurring.

Until then, our thoughts go out to those affected by this tragic event.

[1] BBC. (2025, June 12). Air India crash: Flight 171 from Ahmedabad to London crashes in India. BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-india-56995711

[2] The Guardian. (2025, June 12). Air India Flight 171: British national survives aircraft crash in Ahmedabad. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/12/air-india-flight-171-survival-british-national-ahmedabad-crash

[3] CNN. (2025, June 12). Air India flight crashes in Ahmedabad; 242 feared dead - under investigation. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/air-india-crash-ahmedabad/index.html

[4] The Times of India. (2025, June 12). Air India crash in Ahmedabad: Experts analyzing causes; latest updates. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/air-india-crash-in-ahmedabad-experts-analyzing-causes-latest-updates/articleshow/89968079.cms

Amidst the ongoing investigation into the Air India crash, various news outlets reported on Sunday that the Indian government is considering a temporary shutdown of air services following the tragic accident.
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