A devastating tragedy struck just seconds after takeoff when Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, plummeted into a residential building in Ahmedabad, killing an unknown number and leaving behind a trail of wreckage and grief.
The flight had departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 10:08 AM local time with 242 passengers and crew aboard. Less than a minute into its journey, the aircraft’s transponder signal vanished at just 625 feet above the ground. Moments later, it slammed into a housing complex used by medical professionals.
Onboard were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese passengers — including 11 children. The crash left a massive field of twisted debris and thick black smoke billowing across the city skyline.
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik confirmed the heartbreaking scene, stating:
“One survivor has been located in seat 11A. He is now being treated in hospital. At this moment, we cannot confirm the number of fatalities — the toll may rise as the plane came down in a densely populated area.”
Miraculously, that lone survivor is British citizen Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a longtime London resident, who was seen staggering away from the flaming wreckage, dazed but alive.
In an emotional interview with the Hindustan Times, Ramesh recounted the terror:
“Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud bang — and then, the crash. Everything happened in a flash. When I regained consciousness, I saw bodies everywhere. I panicked. I just ran. Someone pulled me to safety and got me into an ambulance.”
He suffered chest, eye, and foot injuries, but doctors say he remains in stable condition — a rare spark of hope in an otherwise unthinkable catastrophe.
Global leaders have responded with urgency and deep sorrow following the catastrophic plane crash in Ahmedabad.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. I am in constant contact with ministers and authorities who are working tirelessly to assist the victims and their families.”
His message reflects the nation’s mourning and the scale of the loss that has left the world in disbelief.
UK Leaders Express Heartbreak as British Nationals Among Victims
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded with solemn urgency to the unfolding tragedy, stating:
“The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating. I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time.”
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that King Charles has been briefed on the incident and is closely following developments.
As rescue efforts continue and devastated families around the world await answers, the miraculous survival of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh stands as a faint glimmer of hope amid the wreckage — a single story of escape in a sea of unimaginable loss.
