London-Bound Boeing 787 Crashes After Takeoff from Ahmedabad, Dozens Feared Dead; One Survivor Pulled from Wreckage
A Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 242 people plunged into a residential area shortly after departing from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport en route to London Gatwick.
Flight AI171 lifted off at 10:08 AM local time but vanished from radar within a minute, its transponder cutting out at just 625 feet above ground. Moments later, it crashed into a building used as housing for medical professionals, igniting a massive fire and leaving wreckage scattered across the neighborhood.
The aircraft was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese passengers, according to Air India. Among the passengers were 217 adults and 11 children.
The crash triggered a swift emergency response. Ahmedabad’s Police Commissioner GS Malik confirmed to India Today that a single survivor had been rescued from seat 11A and was hospitalized. “We cannot confirm the full number of casualties yet, but the toll may rise given the crash site’s location,” he said.
That survivor is 42-year-old British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a London resident for the past two decades. Eyewitness footage reportedly shows Ramesh emerging from the blaze in shock. Speaking to The Hindustan Times, he described the moment of impact:
“Just seconds after takeoff, I heard a loud noise. Then we hit the ground. It happened so fast,” Ramesh recalled. “When I woke up, I was surrounded by bodies. I panicked and ran. Debris was everywhere. Someone pulled me into an ambulance.”
He suffered injuries to his chest, eyes, and feet but is currently in stable condition.
The crash has sparked international grief. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, expressing heartbreak and affirming that officials are actively assisting victims. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also responded, calling the incident “devastating” and extending his condolences to families of the victims. Reports say King Charles has been updated as well.
As rescue teams continue their work and investigations begin, Ramesh’s survival offers a flicker of hope in what remains a deeply tragic event.
