In a tragic turn of events, Air India Flight 171 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, killing at least 241 people in one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters. The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people, slammed into a medical college campus just minutes after departure.
The crash site showed haunting devastation: wreckage strewn across rooftops, burned classrooms, and a section of the plane’s tail embedded in a collapsed building. Ahmedabad police initially reported no survivors, with 204 bodies recovered and more feared dead due to the densely populated area.
In a miraculous twist, one survivor was found: 40-year-old British national Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, who was returning to London with his brother. Vishwas, bruised but alive, recounted waking up surrounded by bodies and fleeing through the wreckage. His brother remains missing.
Among the victims were Londoners Jamie and Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, who had shared a joyful farewell video just before boarding. Their final message: “Going back happily, happily, happily calm.”
As investigations continue, one man’s survival offers a faint glimmer of hope in a sea of heartbreak.
Our deepest condolences go out to the victims’ families. Please share your thoughts and support below.