hrvarts AHMEDABAD, India June 6, 2025 In one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s history, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff near Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, killing 241 of the 242 people onboard. The lone survivor, a British national of Indian origin, walked away from the wreckage with only minor injuries an outcome his family is calling “a miracle.”
1 Survivor, Hundreds Dead in Devastating Crash
The aircraft, en route to London, took off around 1:38 p.m. local time Thursday before crashing into a commercial building in a densely populated area south of the airport. Initial reports from authorities had indicated there were no survivors, but later updates confirmed that Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 34, survived the crash with bruises on his arms and is now being treated at Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad.
“He is stable physically but is deeply shaken psychologically,” said the hospital’s medical director. “We are keeping a close watch on his condition.”
According to Ramesh, the crash occurred just 30 seconds after takeoff. “There was a loud noise, and then everything happened so fast,” he told The Hindustan Times. He recalled calling his father moments before takeoff and again in a dazed state after the crash, unable to find his brother or any other passengers.
Boeing 787-8 Involved in First Major Crash of Its Kind
The downed aircraft was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, marking the first catastrophic crash involving this model. Air India confirmed that the aircraft was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members at the time of the accident.
Among the victims were:
- 169 Indian nationals
- 53 British nationals
- 1 Canadian
- 7 Portuguese nationals
The airline did not disclose the nationalities of the flight crew.
The aircraft reportedly struck a building that housed offices and a student cafeteria, causing additional fatalities on the ground. Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik noted that “some locals would have also died” due to the crash’s impact.
Bodies Recovered Amid Ongoing Investigation
As of Friday morning, at least 204 bodies had been recovered from the wreckage, according to Kanan Desai, a senior city police official. Authorities believe that number may include people who were in the building hit by the aircraft at the time of the crash.
Emergency crews, assisted by the Cobra disaster response unit, continued searching the debris field late into the night.
Eyewitness Footage Captures Chaos
Verified video footage posted to social media showed plumes of thick black smoke billowing from the crash site. The footage, confirmed by NBC News, depicted fire engulfing the structure where the aircraft made impact.
Locals described hearing a “massive explosion” shortly after takeoff. “It was deafening,” said Meena Joshi, a resident living two blocks away. “The building was on fire within seconds.”
Families Await News at Airports in India and UK
At both Ahmedabad International Airport and Gatwick Airport in London, desperate families waited for confirmation about loved ones. Air India has established emergency response centers in both cities to assist relatives and provide updates.
“My son was flying back to London for work,” said one father through tears outside Gatwick. “We haven’t heard anything yet. We are praying he was not on that plane.”
International Support and Ongoing Investigation
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced on X (formerly Twitter) that it is dispatching a team to assist Indian aviation authorities with the investigation.
While the cause of the crash has not yet been determined, Indian civil aviation authorities are expected to review the aircraft’s black box data, air traffic control communications, and the pilot’s background.
Air India said it is cooperating fully with investigators and has grounded similar aircraft for inspection.
Global Mourning and a Community in Shock
As India reels from one of its worst air tragedies in decades, the story of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh stands as a lone beacon of hope. His brother, Nayan Kumar Ramesh, called it a miracle, but with grief in his voice asked, “What miracle is there for my other brother?”
A nationwide moment of silence is expected to be observed this weekend in memory of the 241 lives lost. Flags across Gujarat were lowered to half-mast Friday morning.
