Right after its takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating as Air India Flight AI-171 crashed, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, destined for London Gatwick. The aircraft crashed into the hostel block of BJ Medical College campus in Meghaninagar, setting itself ablaze on impact.
Official reports confirm 241 deaths on board and at least 28 on the ground, making a total figure of around 269 fatalities; there is one survivor, a British-Indian identified as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, admitted with serious injuries but not fatal.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah describes the tribulations aboard the aircraft as an outright inferno fed by fuel, which gave no chance of survival to the passengers. Bodies were mangled to such an extent that identification would require DNA testing.
In rescue operations, local fire services, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the Central Armed Police Forces took an active part. Flight operations were stopped for numerous hours at Ahmedabad airport before resumption later in the day.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a formal probe into the disaster, assisted by teams from the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and Boeing. Investigators have already recovered at least one flight data recorder ('black box').
In a heartfelt statement, Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran announced that the conglomerate would provide ₹1 crore compensation to the family of each person killed in the crash. Additionally, Tata Group will cover medical expenses for all injured individuals and assist in reconstructing the BJ Medical College hostel that was hit by the aircraft.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, who visited the crash site, described the day as particularly difficult and confirmed the activation of a helpline (1‑800‑569‑1444) and the launch of special relief flights from Delhi and Mumbai to facilitate travel for next-of-kin and staff.
This is the first-ever fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 worldwide and the worst-ever civil aviation catastrophe in India, straddling the domain of a few prior cases. It also marks the first major accident of Air India since the Tata Group took over in 2022.
Following the Montreal Convention, the airlines are liable for about 151,880 SDRs per passenger, amounting to approximately ₹1.8 crore, much higher than the ₹1 crore given in advance by Tata. The final amount of compensation can be altered depending on what the investigations show.
AAIB, with international partners, works to determine mechanical, technical, or procedural causes behind the crash.
DNA identification remains a priority to ensure victims are properly identified and families are informed.
The accident prompts an urgent review of Dreamliner safety measures, including compliance and aircraft maintenance standards.
This catastrophe has left India and the global aviation community in mourning. The Tata Group's ₹1 crore payout underscores its immediate commitment to relief, though legal accords suggest additional compensation may follow. As investigations proceed, survivors continue to receive care, and families await closure amid the wreckage of what was meant to be a routine journey.