Ahmedabad, India —
At 13:38 IST on June 12, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, departed Ahmedabad for London Gatwick with 242 people onboard. Less than a minute later, the aircraft crashed into a medical college structure near the airport perimeter, resulting in the loss of 241 lives — passengers, crew, and residents on the ground.
📢 Government Confirmation & Emergency Action
The Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, confirmed the incident within the hour. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), under Rule 12 of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, immediately initiated a full-scale inquiry.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) notified counterpart agencies:
The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), as the destination state, The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as the manufacturing state of the aircraft and engine.
A senior DGCA official stated:
“The flight issued a MAYDAY at low altitude. Loss of control and systems failure are currently being examined.”
A black box recovery team from DGCA and AAIB has secured both the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder, which have been sent for decryption.
👤 The Only Survivor: Emergency Exit Row
Official reports from Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and the State Police Control Room confirm the identity of the sole survivor:
Mr. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British-Indian national aged 40, seated at 11A, directly adjacent to the left-side emergency exit.
He was located approximately 150 meters from the main fuselage, semi-conscious, with visible injuries to the chest and legs. According to the State Trauma Medical Officer, Ramesh is in stable condition, undergoing neuro-muscular and visual assessment.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has coordinated with the British High Commission for diplomatic and family support.
🔎 Malfunction Claims: Official Investigation Considers Passenger Video
While social media speculation is not being considered as evidence, a traveler identified in formal statements as having flown on the same aircraft hours earlier submitted a formal complaint to DGCA, citing malfunctioning cabin controls, including:
Non-functional air circulation units Inoperative passenger service systems Disconnected seat displays and reading lights
This complaint was logged and will be reviewed during the structural and electrical systems examination, as confirmed by AAIB officials.
An AAIB India official, under confidentiality but permitted disclosure, noted:
“Cabin system logs from the previous two rotations will be cross-referenced with the digital data in the FDR. If any anomalies are found in power distribution, they will be included in the preliminary findings.”
✈️ Is the Exit Row the Safest Place on a Plane?
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council (CASAC) have long held that:
“Passengers seated within five rows of an emergency exit have statistically higher survivability in post-impact evacuation scenarios.”
However, in this case, there was no structured evacuation. Based on survivor placement, accident geometry, and partial fuselage separation, it is likely that Mr. Ramesh’s proximity to a structurally compromised exit door enabled either ejection or voluntary jump at the final moment.
🇮🇳 International Response
The Home Ministry declared the site a Level 1 disaster zone and deployed NDRF units within 45 minutes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and directed the Ministry of Civil Aviation to ensure “a full, transparent, and technology-backed probe.” The Tata Group, Air India’s parent entity, in an official letter to the Civil Aviation Secretary, committed: ₹1 crore compensation to each deceased’s family. Ongoing rehabilitation of injured survivors and nearby affected communities. A permanent Aviation Safety Fund in memory of the victims.
📍 Final Word
The official interim report from AAIB is expected within 30 days as per the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017. Until then, any assumptions on cause remain speculative.
What remains clear — from seat 11A, from a miracle escape, from a video warning of malfunctions — is that air safety is no longer just a matter of maintenance. It’s a matter of minutes, vigilance, and response.
