On June 12, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick crashed minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad, carrying 242 people, including 169 Indians and 53 foreign nationals. The aircraft issued a “Mayday” call—“no thrust, losing power, unable to lift”—before plunging into a civilian area, crashing near a medical college hostel.
Only one survivor, 40-year-old Briton Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, has been confirmed. Authorities report 265 bodies recovered so far, including victims on the ground. Visuals showed thick smoke, debris, and emergency teams scrambling through chaos.
Pilots Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder attempted to regain control before impact. The final radio contact was lost moments after takeoff at 1:39 p.m.
Air India, now owned by Tata Group, activated emergency centers for affected families. Prime Minister Modi directed immediate support for rescue operations, and Ahmedabad Airport suspended all flights.
This marks India’s deadliest crash since 2020. The cause remains under investigation, but early indications point to sudden engine failure. Boeing has yet to comment, as the aviation world watches this unfolding tragedy with deep sorrow.
