Rita Odafe
Authorities in India have successfully retrieved the flight recorder from the wreckage of Air India Flight 171, which tragically crashed into a crowded residential area in Ahmedabad on Thursday, June 12, resulting in the deaths of at least 265 individuals.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was bound for Gatwick Airport in London when it tragically went down shortly after departure.
The incident occurred around midday, only moments after the aircraft issued a distress signal and ascended merely 100 meters (330 feet) from the runway. Witnesses described horrifying scenes as the tail of the plane crashed into the second story of a medical hostel nearby, while the nose impacted a dining facility where students were having lunch.
Reports indicated that the casualties included 242 individuals aboard, comprising both passengers and crew, in addition to at least 24 people on the ground. Officials cautioned that the number of fatalities could increase as DNA identification efforts continue. Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanan Desai verified that 265 bodies had been recovered to date.
The only confirmed survivor, a 28-year-old British national named Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, shared his experience of the incident from his hospital bed. “At first, I thought I was going to die, but when I opened my eyes, I realized I was still alive,” he recounted in an interview with India’s DD News.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site of the crash and subsequently met with Ramesh in the hospital, a moment that was captured by the Prime Minister’s media team.
Air India confirmed that the ill-fated flight included 169 Indian passengers, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese individuals, one Canadian, and 12 crew members. The airline’s parent company, Tata Group, has pledged 10 million rupees ($117,000) as compensation for the families of each victim and will cover medical expenses for those injured.
Families in mourning gathered at an emergency response center in Ahmedabad to provide DNA samples. Among them was Ashfaque Nanabawa, who mentioned that his cousin Akeel had been on the plane with his wife and young child.
“He called us to say, ‘I’m on the plane and everything is fine.’ That was the last we heard from him,” he shared.
Witnesses and volunteer rescuers recounted harrowing scenes. Bharat Solanki, who rushed from a nearby gas station, said, “The bodies were completely charred. It looked like coal.”
A physician living in the affected area noted that part of the aircraft crashed into residences occupied by medical professionals and their families.
Boeing has acknowledged the tragedy and stated that it is working alongside Air India in the investigation. This incident marks the first significant event involving a 787 Dreamliner. The United States and the United Kingdom have dispatched investigators to assist Indian officials.
Amit Shah, India’s Home Minister, confirmed that the official death toll would be established after DNA testing is completed, including samples from relatives who reside abroad.
Experts have advised caution regarding speculation on the incident’s cause. Jason Knight, a senior lecturer in fluid mechanics at the University of Portsmouth, proposed that a dual engine failure, possibly resulting from a bird strike, could be the leading theory, as such aircraft are engineered to continue flying on a single engine.
This tragedy has brought attention to India’s burgeoning aviation sector, which is recognized as the fourth-largest air travel market globally, with aspirations to break into the top three within the next decade. A candlelight vigil was held in Siliguri on Thursday night to honor the victims.
