An investigation is currently in progress following the crash of Air India flight 171, which occurred shortly after takeoff on Thursday. The plane, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, went down in a residential area near Ahmedabad airport. On Friday, authorities confirmed that both of the aircraft’s black boxes had been recovered, with one sustaining some damage but remaining viable for examination.
Shri G.V.G. Yugandhar, director general of India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, stated that the black boxes will be analyzed in India, with U.S. investigators expected on-site by Sunday. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which was headed to the United Kingdom, struck a building in the Meghaninager area, resulting in the deaths of 246 individuals, with at least one passenger having survived, according to local officials and Air India.
In a statement, Air India announced, “The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 13:38 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft.” Among the deceased were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals. The fatalities included not only the flight’s passengers and crew but also five medical students present at the facility where the aircraft crashed, as reported by hospital officials.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson expressed deep sorrow over the incident, confirming that 241 of the 242 individuals aboard the flight perished. He remarked, “We are devastated by this loss and grieve for those affected, their families, and loved ones,” adding that a technical team is on the ground at the crash site along with nearly 100 caregivers to support families.
Wilson also visited the crash site and met with government officials, pledging that Air India would fully cooperate with all investigation efforts. One survivor, Vishwaskumar Ramesh, is currently hospitalized in Ahmedabad. He recounted the harrowing moment, stating, “Everything happened in front of my eyes. I thought I would die. The side where I was seated fell into the ground floor of the building. There was some space. When the door broke, I saw that space and I just jumped out.”
The tragedy has affected many, including Kalpesh Bhai, who mourns the loss of his 14-year-old brother in the crash. Indian officials had initially reported that no survivors were likely. The recovery of victims’ bodies is nearing completion, with plans for DNA identification of the deceased’s relatives, as noted by Indian Home Minister Amit Shah.
The aircraft carried approximately 125,000 liters of fuel, and with temperatures soaring, opportunities for rescues were extremely limited, Shah elaborated. Eyewitness accounts indicate the jet disappeared shortly after its departure, followed by a fireball and dense smoke at the crash site.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences via social media, stating, “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us… In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it.”
In response to the disaster, Air India will arrange two relief flights for the families of passengers and staff from Delhi and Mumbai to Ahmedabad. Tata Group, which owns the airline, has pledged ₹1 crore (approximately $116,000) to the families of each passenger who lost their life in the crash, along with covering medical expenses for those injured.