Everything We Know About the Air India Flight 171 Crash: Pilot's Final Words, Story of the Only Survivor, & More

• Air India Flight 171 crashed into a hostel, killing hundreds.
• The shocking, miraculous survival of one passenger was recorded in a video.
• Pilot’s valiant last action before the deadly crash revealed.
• Some victims had been identified, including the pilot, cabin crew, and passengers.
• A 28-year-old woman luckily missed the ill-fated flight.
• A husband wanting to fulfill his late wife’s wish was among those killed.
• The story of the doomed flight’s lone survivor traveling with his brother, who did not survive the crash.

Welcome to this week's news digest. It's been a somber few days—not just for India, but for the world. A tragic plane crash involving an Air India flight bound for London claimed the lives of 241 people, leaving only one survivor. The nation mourns as investigators work to uncover what went wrong. Check out all the updates.

1. What Happened on the Day of the Plane Crash?

An Air India flight bound for London tragically crashed on Thursday, June 12, just minutes after taking off from the northwestern Indian city of Ahmedabad. While authorities continue to confirm the details, grieving families are left to mourn the loss of their loved ones.

The incident involved flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8, which was carrying 244 people—232 passengers and 12 crew members—according to officials. Of the 232 passengers, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were British, while one Canadian and seven Portuguese nationals were also among those traveling.

A further breakdown reveals that the passengers included 217 adults, 11 children, and two infants. The total number of fatalities has yet to be confirmed.

"Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest on http://airindia.com and on our X handle (https://x.com/airindia)," a spokesperson for Air India confirmed on X.

The aircraft had departed at 1:38 p.m. local time. It was scheduled to land at London's Gatwick Airport at 6:25 p.m. According to data from Flight Radar, it lost signal just seconds after takeoff, having reached an altitude of 625 feet.

Before communication with the aircraft was severed, the aircraft issued a mayday alert to air traffic control. No further communication followed after the distress call.

The plane went down in a residential area called Meghani Nagar, crashing into a medical college hostel, only five minutes into the flight. The densely populated neighborhood lies near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, a city of over 5 million residents.

Visuals aired on local news channels showed thick plumes of smoke rising from the crash site as emergency crews rushed to the scene.

Weather conditions were reported to be calm and clear at the time of the crash, according to flight safety expert Marco Chan. Aviation forecasts indicated light surface winds and visibility of around six kilometers, with no severe weather, storms, or wind shear present that could have impacted the flight.

Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the directorate of civil aviation, confirmed the location of the crash and the number of people on board.

India's Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, shared that emergency response teams had been dispatched to the scene, with efforts underway to provide immediate medical assistance and necessary relief to those affected.

"We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action," he noted. "My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families."

Operations at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport have been suspended, with the airport remaining closed until further notice.

Meanwhile, local politician Darshna Vaghela told reporters that several doctors' flats in the area were damaged in the crash. He said he was nearby at the time and helped rescue many of the residents from their homes.

According to local media reports, the aircraft came down on the dining hall of the government-run B.J. Medical College hostel, reportedly claiming the lives of several medical students.

Footage aired showed part of the plane lodged on top of the building. "We are still verifying the number of dead, including those killed in the building where the plane crashed," Vidhi Chaudhary, a top state police officer said.

A parent, Ramila, shared that her son had just entered the hostel for a lunch break when the plane crashed. He jumped from the second floor and was injured, but is now safe.

Anxious relatives gathered outside hospitals in Ahmedabad awaiting news of loved ones have also spoken out. Among them was Poonam Patel who said his sister-in-law had been on the London-bound flight. "Within an hour, I got the news that the plane had crashed. So I came here," he said.

Records show the crashed aircraft frequently operates routes between India and cities such as Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Amsterdam, and Melbourne. This marks the first-ever crash involving a Boeing 787-8, a significant moment for the aircraft that has maintained a strong safety record since its launch 14 years ago.

Known as the Dreamliner, the model recently celebrated a major milestone, having transported a billion passengers across nearly five million flights. The global fleet of more than 1,175 Dreamliners has accumulated over 30 million flight hours.

The incident is a serious setback for Boeing, which has already been under pressure due to ongoing issues with its 737 aircraft line. It also presents a fresh challenge for CEO Kelly Ortberg, who is nearing his one-year mark at the helm and was appointed to help steer the company through mounting concerns about its operations and reliability.

2. Who Was the One Passenger Walking Out of the Wreckage Alive?

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national, who occupied seat 11A, survived the collision and was later observed leaving the scene on foot.

At the Civil Hospital in Asarwa, 40-year-old Vishwash, who has lived in London for 20 years and has a wife and child there, described what happened in the moments after the aircraft lifted off.

"Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly," he told Hindustan Times. The outlet also posted Vishwash's boarding pass on their website.

He had been in India for a short visit and was returning to the United Kingdom with his 45-year-old brother, Ajay Kumar Ramesh. The two were seated in different rows on the flight. Vishwash said, "We visited Diu. He was travelling with me and I can't find him anymore. Please help me find him."

Meanwhile, Vishwash reportedly sustained "impact injuries" to his chest, eyes, and feet. After regaining consciousness, he said he stood up, afraid after seeing the surrounding disaster, and ran through debris until someone helped him into an ambulance.

A video shared by India Today NE allegedly shows Vishwash walking away from the wreckage toward an ambulance. He was slightly limping and talking to the people around him as someone guided him. Additionally, the clip captured voices in the background, including cries from others at the scene.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, several other families were also searching for missing relatives. One of those was Sailesh Mandliya, a former aide to Gujarat’s ex-Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The politician's whereabouts remained uncertain as of this writing, and Mandliya asked to be informed if any information surfaced.

3. How Did the Pilot Attempt to Save the Aircraft from Crashing?

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew members, was en route to London Gatwick when it suddenly encountered trouble.

Commanding the aircraft was Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who issued an urgent Mayday call — the most severe emergency signal in aviation — moments before all contact with Air Traffic Control (ATC) was lost.

The distress call, which is internationally recognized and must be repeated three times for clarity and priority handling — "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" — marked the pilot's final communication before the plane vanished from radar.

Despite repeated efforts from ATC to reconnect, there was no further response from the cockpit, as confirmed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The term "Mayday" itself has a poignant origin. Coined in the early 1920s by Frederick Stanley Mockford, a radio officer at London's Croydon Airport, it is derived from the French phrase "m'aider," which means "help me."

Alongside the Morse code "SOS" signal, the International Radiotelegraph Convention adopted the term as the standard voice distress call for both aircraft and vessels around the world by 1927.

Aviation professionals rely on Mayday calls to signal the most critical emergencies in flight, including engine failures, structural malfunctions, fires, severe weather conditions, or serious medical incidents onboard. Mayday is different from less severe distress calls like "Pan-pan," which address technical problems that don't immediately endanger lives.

When a pilot issues a Mayday call, they typically provide key details, including the aircraft's identification, location, nature of the emergency, number of people on board, remaining fuel, and the type of assistance required.

This structured format enables air traffic controllers and emergency responders to act swiftly and effectively. Once a Mayday call is received, all non-urgent radio communications are halted, giving the distressed aircraft absolute priority.

ATC then coordinates with emergency services, other aircraft, and nearby airports to provide full support. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also advises pilots to provide specific details such as weather conditions, altitude, and flight intentions to enhance the effectiveness of rescue efforts.

Importantly, making a false Mayday declaration is a criminal offense in many countries, punishable by fines and imprisonment. In the case of the recent Ahmedabad crash, the crew's swift and accurate Mayday call was a vital step in following emergency protocols.

Though the outcome was tragic, with no known survivors, the transmission offered valuable information for investigators and emergency services, highlighting the professionalism of the flight crew even in the most perilous moments.

​​Firefighters worked tirelessly to extinguish the flames engulfing the wreckage of Air India Flight AI-171, which had been fully fueled shortly before its takeoff and catastrophic crash. Water was also sprayed on surrounding multistory buildings, one of which bore the plane's tail cone still lodged near its rooftop, stabilizer fins visibly damaged.

The immediate aftermath was marked by horrific scenes — charred bodies lay scattered across the ground, one solemnly carried away by emergency teams.

In the final minutes before the devastating crash, data gathered from Flightradar24 reveals a brief but alarming timeline. At 1:30 p.m. local time, the aircraft was recorded as stationary on the ground, with its speed logged at zero knots.

Four minutes later, at 1:34 p.m., it remained on the ground, though its speed had begun to increase, reaching 10 knots — roughly 11.5 miles per hour or 18.5 kilometers per hour.

Then, at 1:38 p.m., the plane made a sudden ascent, climbing swiftly to an altitude of 625 feet (approximately 190 meters) and reaching a speed of 174 knots. Immediately after this short-lived climb, all signals from the aircraft were lost.

Addressing the tragedy, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his heartbreak in a public statement, calling the scenes from the crash "devastating."

Similarly, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as "heartbreaking beyond words," extending his sympathies to all those affected.

4. What Were the Pilot’s Final Words Seconds before the Tragedy?

The aircraft had only been airborne for 11 seconds when it encountered a critical failure. What should have been a standard ascent quickly escalated into chaos as the situation, in the words of a news outlet's report, "suddenly became an irrecoverable disaster."

The crash claimed the lives of nearly everyone on board and inflicted casualties on the ground, as stunned air traffic controllers could do nothing but watch.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, though officials warn that answers may take months. Among the possible causes being considered are bird strikes and mechanical failure.

As investigations continue into the catastrophic crash, authorities have now released the names and photographs of several crew members involved in the disaster, including the flight's pilots and cabin crew.

Accompanying Captain Sabharwal, a seasoned aviator who joined Air India in 1994, in the cockpit was First Officer Clive Kunder. Hailing from Mumbai, Kunder had logged 1,100 hours in the air and was a graduate of the Paris Air Flight School in Florida, according to local reports.

Among the cabin crew confirmed to have been on board were Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam and Lamnunthem Singson.

Additional senior crew members have also been named, including Shradha Dhavan, Aparna Mahadik, and Saineeta Chakravarti, as well as Deepak Pathak, Maithili Patil, Irfan Shaikh, Roshni Songhare Rajendra, and Manisha Thapa.

As the airline community, families, and the broader public mourn the tragic loss of life and await the outcome of an extensive investigation into what led to the aircraft's abrupt descent so soon after takeoff, a heartbreaking revelation has emerged about Captain Sabharwal.

Just days before the crash, the late pilot had made a tender promise to his 82-year-old father, a former Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official who lives in Powai, Mumbai.

According to local MLA Dilip Mama Lande, "A few days ago, he promised to take a break to spend time with his father." Lande shared this after meeting with grieving family members.

Sadly, that heartfelt commitment was never fulfilled. Sabharwal perished in the crash minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport. The tragedy has hit Mumbai especially hard. Nine of the crew members on board the flight were also based out of the city.

Their families, expecting a call from London, instead received devastating news that their loved ones were gone far too soon.

As the heartbreaking story of Air India Flight 171 continues to unfold, media outlets across the globe — among them the BBC — have been publishing continuous updates, piecing together the lives affected by the tragedy and the legacy left behind by those onboard. Among the most poignant revelations shared is about Captain Sabharwal, who was on the verge of a well-earned retirement.

According to The Indian Express newspaper, the 60-year-old pilot was just months away from stepping down after decades of service in the skies.

Captain Sabharwal held the prestigious role of Line Training Captain (LTC), a title reserved for the most accomplished pilots entrusted with guiding and evaluating younger crew members.

A neighbor in his Mumbai residence recalled him as a man of quiet discipline. "He was very reserved, disciplined. We used to see him come and go in uniform often, but he was a very reserved person," they divulged.

5. Why Did One Woman Luckily Miss the Doomed Flight?

Bhoomi Chauhan was supposed to be among the 242 people aboard Air India Flight 171 (AI171), which took off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12 en route to London Gatwick. Just minutes after takeoff, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed, killing nearly everyone on board and dozens on the ground.

The 28-year-old student from Bristol, narrowly avoided tragedy because she had been stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on her way to the airport.

Chauhan was frustrated at the time as the delay meant she arrived less than an hour before the scheduled departure, and by then, airline staff had already closed check-in. What felt like a travel nightmare in the moment turned out to be a life-saving twist of fate.

Chauhan had been travelling from Ankleshwar, about 200 kilometers south of Ahmedabad, but got caught in heavy traffic as her car passed through the city centre. She got to the airport at 12:20 p.m. local time, just ten minutes after boarding was supposed to begin.

Although she had already checked in online and had a boarding pass for seat 36G in economy, she was not allowed to complete the process at the airport.

Chauhan recalled pleading with airline staff to let her through, explaining that she was only ten minutes late and could be the final passenger to board. Despite her efforts, they denied her entry to the flight.

"We got very angry with our driver and left the airport in frustration. I was very disappointed," she narrated. Chauhan, who had been in western India on holiday, was headed back home to the UK, where she lives with her husband and is pursuing a business administration degree.

"When I missed the flight, I was dejected. Only thing that I had in mind was, 'If I had started a little early, I would have boarded the plane,'" she noted.

After being turned away at the airport, Chauhan and her companions stopped for tea nearby. While there, they began discussing with their travel agent how to go about getting a refund for the missed ticket. It was during that conversation that they first heard about the crash.

The realization of what she narrowly escaped hit her. "This is totally a miracle for me," she declared. AI171 had departed shortly after 1:30 p.m. local time, and within five minutes, it had gone down, leaving a trail of devastation behind.

6. What Was the Grieving Husband Trying to Do in Honor of His Wife When He Died?

Arjun Patolia, a UK-based father of two, had just immersed his wife Bharatiben's ashes in the sacred Narmada River in Gujarat when disaster struck.

He was returning to London on Air India flight AI-171 when the plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing him and others on board.

Just a week earlier, Bharatiben had passed away in London. Her final request was that her ashes be returned to her birthplace in India. Arjun honored that wish, traveling alone to her village to carry out the traditional rites.

After completing the emotional ceremonies with relatives, he was on his way back to the UK to reunite with their daughters, aged four and eight. Now, the two girls are left orphaned within the span of a single devastating week.

The Narmada River, where Arjun performed the rituals, holds deep spiritual significance in Hinduism. For many, immersing ashes in its waters is believed to purify the soul and bring peace to the departed.

7. How Did the Lone Survivor Escape Death, But His Brother, Who Was on the Same Flight, Did Not?

Ajaykumar Ramesh, 35, and his brother Viswash, 40, had just finished their business trip in India and were returning to the UK. They boarded Air India's Ahmedabad-to-Gatwick flight On Thursday, unaware of the tragedy that lay ahead. They took their seats with Ajay settling in 11J and Viswash across the aisle in 11A, near the emergency exit.

Then came the crash.

Viswash, seated in 11A near the emergency exit, lived through what investigators now call a catastrophic crash. His brother Ajay, just across the aisle in seat 11J, did not as flames consumed the cabin. Viswash, bloodied and disoriented, was pulled from the wreckage.

Now in an Indian hospital, Viswash keeps repeating one haunting plea: "Find Ajay, you must find Ajay."

Back in Leicester, their family is caught between disbelief and grief. Their mother, too distraught to speak, remains surrounded by relatives offering comfort. Their youngest brother, Nayankumar, described the surreal moment they received the call.

"It's a miracle at least one of them survived," he stated. "He said his plane had crashed and he couldn’t find anyone. We couldn't believe it. There was blood running down his face."

Photos taken in the Indian hospital show Viswash's injuries. Nayankumar said the family is preparing to fly out, desperate for answers. He added that Ajay's phone still rings, but no one picks up.

Air India confirmed the grim reality late Thursday night: of the 242 people aboard flight AI171, only one survived. That sole survivor was Viswash. Ajaykumar was not among them.

For hours, the family clung to hope. They believed Ajay might have been rushed to a different hospital, his name missed in the confusion.

Nayankumar had said earlier that they were "so confused" but still hoped his brother had somehow made it out alive. When asked how the family was coping with the ordeal — one brother surviving while another was lost — Nayankumar motioned to their mother, Manibai Ramesh. She was too overwhelmed to speak, her sobs filling the silence.

"That's your answer," he said. "We're just baffled, baffled." Despite the heartbreak, he acknowledged the cruel duality of the moment: "It's a miracle at least one of them survived."

Ajaykumar and Viswash had traveled to India on business tied to their family's ventures. Viswash had previously served as director of RMV Fashion, a Leicester-based textile company that closed in 2022.

The first signs of life came when Viswash called home. He told relatives he had fled the burning aircraft and was safe, though injured. The call brought a wave of relief — but also deepened the fear for Ajay, who never got in touch.

Their cousin, Ajay Valgi, also from Leicester, shared his anguish. He described Ajaykumar not just as a cousin, but as one of his closest friends. "They were sitting next to each other,” he said. "But we don't know what happened to Ajay." The family is still reeling. "We're not doing well," he added. "We're all upset."

That's a wrap on this week's news digest. Thank you for joining us and stay tuned for more stories.

8. Who Were the Identified Victims?

Among the 242 people on board the ill-fated flight were 232 passengers, including two infants and 12 crew members. Only one person reportedly survived. First Officer Clive Kunder, originally from Mangaluru and living in Mumbai, was among those who lost their lives.

He had completed his flight training at Paris Air Inc. and had logged approximately 1,100 flying hours. Clive was relatively new to commercial aviation but fully certified to operate the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Actor Vikrant Massey took to Instagram Stories to share that he had a personal connection to Clive. He revealed that Clive was the son of his uncle, Clifford Kunder. Vikrant extended his prayers to his uncle and to all those mourning loved ones, adding that his heart breaks for them.

At the time of the crash, Clive was assisting Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who held primary command of the flight. Sumeet, a Line Training Captain (LTC) with over 8,200 flight hours, also lost his life in the accident.

As an LTC, he was responsible for mentoring and guiding other flight crew members, a role that reflected the trust placed in his expertise and leadership.

That experience was evident in his final moments, when he realized something was wrong and radioed the ground with a chilling message, "Mayday…no thrust, losing power, unable to lift!"

In the following 19 seconds, the Boeing Dreamliner continued to lose altitude and drifted off course before crashing into buildings, claiming the lives of nearly everyone on board and dozens more on the ground, as air traffic controllers watched in helpless horror.

Also on duty were senior cabin crew members Shradha Dhavan and Aparna Mahadik, along with Saineeta Chakravarti, Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma, Deepak Pathak, Maithili Patil, Irfan Shaikh, Lamnunthem Singson, Roshni Songhare Rajendra, and Manisha Thapa.

Politician Biren Singh paid tribute to Kongbrailatpam and Lamnunthem on X, sharing their photos and remembering them as vibrant individuals who served with pride and dedication. "May their souls rest in peace and may their loved ones find the strength to get through this unimaginable pain," he penned.

The death of the British couple Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, 39, and his husband Jamie Meek, 44, has also left their loved ones devastated and struggling to process the sudden loss. The two were returning home to London after a ten-day stay at a wellness retreat in India.

Jamie's brother, Nick Meek, a caretaker from Birmingham, noted, "We were expecting him home tonight. He should have landed at 6.30pm and then driven up for about 11 to get his dog who is staying with our Mum."

Nick said their mother was struggling to cope with the news, describing the loss as overwhelming and still very fresh for the family.

Fiongal and Jamie, known for running The Wellness Foundry, a spiritual wellness practice based in London and Ramsgate, had boarded the flight expecting to be back in time to reunite with family and their dog but their lives were tragically cut short.

The couple's joy and gratitude for their trip were clear in the final video they posted on their wellness page. In the lighthearted clip, Jamie and Fiongal appeared cheerful and full of energy, smiling and joking with one another.

At one point, Fiongal asked Jamie what his biggest takeaway from the trip was, prompting some playful back-and-forth as Jamie initially responded that they'd already covered that question, only for Fiongal to clarify it was for something else.

They continued joking, with Fiongal quipping that his main takeaway was not to lose patience with his partner. Jamie laughed, saying Fiongal had already begun losing patience with him after snapping during tea, adding, "I see you've learnt nothing," as Fiongal burst into laughter. The video ended with Fiongal blowing a kiss to the camera and saying, "Going back happily, happily, happily calm."

Jamie’s final Instagram post also captured a quiet, joyful moment between the couple during their time at the wellness retreat. He shared a photo of the two of them seated at their accommodation in India, sunlight streaming in as they smiled cheerfully.

The personal stories of those who lost their lives in the crash have deeply moved many, with countless people offering prayers for those mourning their brothers, sisters, parents, and loved ones.