On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI 171—a Boeing 787 Dreamliner—crashed just seconds after departing from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, bound for London Gatwick. In one of the deadliest tragedies in recent aviation history, 241 people aboard and dozens on the ground perished. Miraculously, one man survived: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, seated in seat 11A, who escaped through an emergency exit and walked away from the wreckage—barely injured. Moments before the crash, however, another flyer aboard the same aircraft earlier that day noticed something unusual, raising critical questions about whether warning signs were ignored. Let’s explore the full story1. The Catastrophe: What We Know
- Timeline & Impact
Flight AI 171 took off at 13:38 IST. Around 17 seconds into flight, CCTV footage showed the plane climbing briefly then descending erratically, before crashing into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad, bursting into flames upon impact - Casualties
Of the 242 people on board (230 passengers, 12 crew), 241 were killed, along with 38 people on the ground, including students in the hostel. - Mayday Call & Technical Glitch
A distress call was recorded—”Thrust not achieved… falling… Mayday!”—hinting at engine or thrust issues shortly after takeoff . The plane’s landing gear remained extended during the ascent.
- Seat & Survival
Ramesh, a 38-year-old British national of Indian origin, was seated in 11A, an emergency-exit seat near the wing box—a sturdier structural zone. This likely helped him avoid fatal damage during the crash. - Escape & Injuries
He jumped through a broken emergency exit shortly after impact and walked away from the burning wreckage with minor burns and bruises. His brother, seated nearby, unfortunately did not survive - Eyewitness Accounts & Emotional Aftermath
Ramesh described watching the aircraft stall in mid‑air before crashing. Survivors’ stories express profound grief: “Everything happened in front of my eyes.”
He joins a small group of sole-plane-crash survivors who often face survivor’s guilt, a psychological burden well-documented in aviation psychology - Emergency Response Efforts
Rescue teams—including fire services, NDRF, CRPF, and the Army—rushed to the chaotic scene and helped evacuate the injured
3. The Pre-Crash Warning: Akash Vatsa’s Account
- Earlier Flight Experience
Akash Vatsa, an entrepreneur, had flown on the same Air India Dreamliner just hours before it crashed—on the earlier leg from Delhi to Ahmedabad - Noticed Unusual Behavior
He reported noticing multiple anomalies onboard: malfunctioning air-conditioning and entertainment screens, flickering cabin lights, and fluctuating rear flap movements - His Alerts to Airline
Vatsa recorded a video, posting it publicly via X (formerly Twitter), urging Air India to investigate: “Noticed unusual things… flaps moving up and down repeatedly… AC not working… TV screens not working - Potential Significance
Aviation experts stress that flap or hydraulic irregularities during cruise are significant red flags, warranting thorough checks against pre-flight maintenance records.
4. Official Investigation & Regulatory Response
- Black Box Recovery
Both the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) were recovered—though early reports suggest some damage—by Indian and international aviation authorities . - Regulatory Actions
The DGCA (India’s aviation regulator) issued mandatory engine and flap system checks for all Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliners equipped with GEnx engines . - Probes Underway
Investigators are examining:- Engine thrust data and lubricationFlap/hydraulic functionMaintenance logsCockpit communications .
- Broader Safety Audits
DGCA extended inspections to Air India’s full 787 fleet, while anti-terror teams also examined sabotage theories—though no evidence of foul play has surfaced .
