The Air India flight 171, which departed from Ahmedabad to London, turned into a nightmare on Thursday, June 12, 2025. In less than a minute, a brand new Boeing 787 crashes into a residential area. Toll: 265 dead… and one survivor. Here is everything we know about the plane crash in India that is shaking global news and shaking the reputation of the Dreamliner.
✈️ What happened? Minute by minute account of the Air India flight 171 crash
It is 1:39 PM at Ahmedabad airport. A brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner takes off for London-Gatwick. On board: 242 people, including 230 passengers, from India, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Canada.
At barely 625 feet altitude. An emergency call is issued. The plane seems to lose lift, hesitates, pitches up, then dips violently nose down. The impact is immediate: explosion, fire, two buildings demolished in a residential area.
“The noise was unreal. Then flames, everywhere. Half of the plane in a residence, the other half in a student cafeteria,” recounts a rescuer.
🎥 Crash filmed live: viral images and social media in turmoil
On TikTok, Twitter/X, and Instagram, videos are rolling in. The plane is seen pitching up, as if “hesitating,” then falling. The explosion spreads in a fireball. #CrashIndia, #Dreamliner, and #PlaneCrashSurvivor trend within minutes.
👤 The miracle survivor: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh
Yes, one survivor. And you will hear his name everywhere: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, British citizen, found alive in seat 11A, bloodied, shocked, but conscious.
A doctor: “We pulled him from the wreckage. He was limping. He was there. It was unreal.”
This plane crash survivor in India becomes the symbol of a miracle and the face of a global tragedy. The keyword “plane crash survivor India” explodes in searches.
📊 Airplane crash India Boeing 787: human and material toll
| Detail | Data |
|---|---|
| Aircraft | Boeing 787 Dreamliner |
| Flight | Air India 171 |
| Location | Ahmedabad (India), residential area |
| Date | June 12, 2025 |
| Time | 1:39 PM |
| People on board | 242 |
| Victims | 265 (including about twenty on the ground) |
| Survivors | 1 (Vishwash Kumar Ramesh) |
| Affected buildings | Medical residence and student cafeteria |
The Boeing 787, which had flown over Paris the day before, is nothing but a smoking wreck. Air India, under the leadership of the Tata group, triggers a crisis management team.
🧪 Why did this Boeing 787 crash? Initial hypotheses
This crash is the first fatal crash of a Dreamliner since 2011. And experts are at work:
- No unfavorable weather conditions
- No terrorist claim
- Loss of lift or engine failure
- Alert triggered mere seconds after takeoff
The black boxes have been found and are currently being analyzed by the following agencies:
| Agency | Country | Role |
|---|---|---|
| DGCA | India | Main investigation |
| NTSB | USA | Technical analysis |
| BEA | France | Since the plane stopped in Paris |
| AAIB | UK | Involvement of British passengers |
✈️ Dreamliner, a symbol in free fall?
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, star of long-haul flights, had everything to reassure: efficiency, silence, design. But this catastrophe brings back burning issues:
| Year | Incident | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Lithium-Ion batteries catching fire | Worldwide grounding |
| 2019 | Faulty software | Mass recalls |
| 2025 | Crash of Air India flight 171 | Ongoing international investigation |
🧨 Philippe Tabarot and the Paris Air Show: the political shockwave
The crash comes a few days before the Paris Air Show, the grand mass of global aeronautics. Catastrophic timing for Boeing.
Philippe Tabarot, French senator and industry specialist, is already calling for strengthened audits and a revision of European standards.
In the corridors of the show, the whispers have turned to silence: everything revolves around air safety… and the “plane crash” that has changed the game.
📢 Official reactions and immediate measures
- Air India temporarily suspends several Dreamliner flights
- The British Prime Minister and the Indian government make public statements
- 110 million euros allocated for families
- General inspections of Boeing 787s worldwide
📈 What this crash changes for global aviation
Do you think India is used to crashes? Not really. The last major tragedies date back to:
- Mangalore, 2010
- Collision in New Delhi, 1996
But with record growth (315 million passengers per year), Indian aviation is under pressure: infrastructure, training, maintenance… Everything needs to be reviewed.
🧠 FAQ: what everyone is searching for after the crash
How many survivors?
One: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh.
Is this a fault of the Boeing 787?
Investigation ongoing, but several technical incidents in the model’s history.
Who is investigating?
DGCA (India), NTSB (USA), BEA (France), AAIB (UK).
What impact on the Paris Air Show?
Major. Air safety becomes the main theme. Boeing is in crisis management mode.
Should we be worried about long-haul flights?
No panic, but clearly, a wave of global inspections has begun.
Read more: Top 100 Best Airlines
Céline, a passionate blogger about news and travel, I decode the trends that make the world buzz. Whether it’s exploring hidden corners of the planet or analyzing the hottest topics in the news, I share my discoveries here with a curious and authentic perspective. Join me to travel through words and ideas!
