Air India Boeing 787 Crash in Ahmedabad Kills Over 200, One British Passenger Survives

A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating Air India flight AI171 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, en route to London, killing all but one of the 242 people on board and several others on the ground. The sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British-Indian national seated in 11A, sustained injuries but was able to recount the crash from his hospital bed, describing the rapid descent and chaotic aftermath. The plane crashed into a residential area housing a medical college dormitory and canteen, where students and families were gathered, resulting in significant casualties and injuries on the ground. The pilot issued a Mayday call shortly after takeoff but lost contact as the aircraft rapidly lost altitude. Rescue teams have recovered over 200 bodies so far, and authorities continue to investigate the cause, including searching for the flight data and cockpit voice recorders. The crash profoundly affected the local community and drew condolences from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.