Air India Flight 171: A Dreamliner's Descent into Tragedy
Air India Flight 171, a scheduled international passenger flight from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, to London Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom, met with disaster on June 12, 2025. The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating the flight crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in a devastating loss of life and widespread damage.
The Fateful Flight
On June 12, 2025, at 13:39 IST (08:09 UTC), Air India Flight 171, bound for London, took off from Ahmedabad. Just 32 seconds into its flight, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into the hostel block of B. J. Medical College in Ahmedabad, a mere 1.7 kilometers (1 mi; 0.9 nmi) from the runway. The aircraft, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, was consumed by flames upon impact.
Casualties and Survival
The crash of Air India Flight 171 resulted in a catastrophic loss of life. Of the 242 people on board, all 12 crew members and 229 passengers perished. On the ground, an additional 19 people were killed, and 67 sustained serious injuries. The sole survivor of the crash was identified as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British citizen who was seated in 11A, next to an emergency exit. He sustained multiple minor injuries, including facial cuts and burns to his left hand, and was discharged from the hospital after five days.
Eyewitness Accounts and Initial Response
Eyewitnesses described the horror of the crash, recounting how the plane was flying very low before crashing into the residential quarters of doctors and nursing staff of the civil hospital and BJ Medical college. The blaze was so intense that it led to several multi-storey buildings being burnt, trees being singed, and cars getting damaged.
The crash happened at lunchtime, and reports said doctors and nurses at the hostel were having food when the crash happened. One photo showed the snout of the plane crashing through the top floor of the building where the dining area was located.
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Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the scene. Firefighter teams, the Central Industrial Security Force, and teams from the Indian Army, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, National Disaster Response Force, and Western Railways all assisted with rescue and relief efforts. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation deployed more than 150 vehicles to clear debris from the site.
The Investigation Begins
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 13:39 IST (08:09 UTC) from Runway 23 and issued a MAYDAY Call to ATC but thereafter no response was given by the aircraft to the calls made by ATC.
The search for the aircraft's black box - the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder - began immediately, with the aim of understanding what happened in the last crucial moments of the flight. The first of the aircraft's two enhanced airborne flight recorders (EAFR) was recovered from the mess hall rooftop on June 13. The second EAFR was recovered from the crash debris on June 16.
Preliminary Findings
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released a preliminary report on July 12, outlining its initial findings. The report revealed that after a 62-second takeoff roll, the aircraft rotated at an airspeed of 155 knots (287 km/h; 178 mph) and lifted off 4 seconds later at 13:38:39 IST. As the aircraft reached its maximum recorded airspeed of 180 knots (330 km/h; 210 mph) 3 seconds after lifting off the runway, both fuel control switches sequentially moved from RUN to CUTOFF, 1 second apart. Both engines immediately shut down and stopped producing thrust.
One pilot was heard on the cockpit voice recording asking the other why he had "cut off", with the other pilot answering that he "did not". The report did not specify who said what. According to flight recorder data and airport CCTV footage, the ram air turbine (RAT) deployed automatically and began producing emergency hydraulic and electric power 5 seconds after the first switch moved. The first switch returned to RUN about 10 seconds after it had moved to CUTOFF, and the second switch returned to RUN about 4 seconds after that. About 9 seconds after the second switch returned to RUN, one of the pilots issued a mayday call, reporting a loss of thrust.
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The preliminary report noted that the FAA had issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) in 2018, warning that fuel switches similar to those on the 787 had been installed on Boeing 737 aircraft with the stop-lock mechanisms disengaged.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
While the investigation was ongoing, initial findings pointed to the movement of the fuel control switches as a critical factor in the crash. The switches, located just below the throttle levers, control the fuel flow to the engines. Moving a switch to CUTOFF in flight immediately halts fuel flow, causing a loss of thrust, as well as the electrical and hydraulic power that engine supplies.
The fact that both fuel control switches sequentially moved from RUN to CUTOFF, 1 second apart, suggests a possible mechanical failure, human error, or a combination of both. The investigation focused on determining the exact cause of the switch movement and whether the stop-lock mechanisms were functioning correctly.
Aftermath and Response
Following the crash, Air India suspended 83 wide-body flights for six weeks to perform government-mandated safety checks on its Boeing 787 fleet. Tata Group, the parent company of Air India, announced voluntary payments of ₹10 million (US$120,000) to the families of each deceased passenger, along with coverage of medical expenses for those injured. The company also announced plans to assist in rebuilding the five damaged college buildings.
The Human Cost
The crash of Air India Flight 171 had a profound impact on the families of the victims, the medical community at B. J. Medical College, and the wider community in Ahmedabad. The loss of life was immense, and the emotional toll on those affected was immeasurable.
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Among the victims were five medical students, a PG resident doctor, and the wife of a superspecialist doctor from the BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad. The crash occurred during lunchtime, when many students and resident doctors were in the hostel dining hall.
Lessons Learned
The crash of Air India Flight 171 served as a stark reminder of the importance of aviation safety and the need for constant vigilance. The investigation into the crash aimed to identify the root causes of the accident and to implement measures to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
The incident also highlighted the importance of proper training for pilots and maintenance personnel, as well as the need for robust safety protocols and procedures. The findings of the investigation were expected to have a significant impact on the aviation industry, leading to changes in aircraft design, maintenance practices, and pilot training programs.
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