“Today, we pause. We remember. We stand with you.”
India mourns the Air India Flight crash, the devastation on June 12, the breaking news of the tragedy from the skies. Air India Flight AI-171, en route from Delhi to Ahmedabad, crashed minutes after takeoff, claiming more than 240 lives. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, veered off course before plummeting into the BJ Medical College’s student hostel, turning a midday meal into a massacre.
This is not just another crash. It is a national trauma. It is the extinguishing of young dreams, passengers’ plans, families’ futures — in a matter of minutes. The country stands hushed. Flags fly at half-mast. Emergency lights flash, but nothing can illuminate the grief that hangs over the nation.
What Happened: The Timeline of the Flight AI-171 Crash
Flight AI-171 departed Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:39 IST. Barely into the air, it lost communication with Air Traffic Control. Initial data from radar and black box reports suggest a sudden loss of cabin pressure, followed by what appears to be structural disintegration.
Eyewitnesses in Ahmedabad recount a horrifying sight — the aircraft roaring unusually low over the city before crashing into the BJMC hostel block. Some students mistook the sound for a gas explosion until the building shook and flames engulfed the mess area.
Rescue efforts began within 15 minutes, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire brigades, and local volunteers risking their lives to recover survivors and bodies. The wreckage was both in the air and in the hearts of the community.
The Survivor of the Air India Flight Crash: Seat 11A and a Miracle
They say miracles are rare. But sometimes, amid twisted steel and scorched earth, they walk out alive.
That’s what the world witnessed with Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national, who against all odds, is believed to be the only survivor of Air India Flight 171 — a commercial flight bound for London that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12.
Ramesh’s survival isn’t just improbable — it’s unexplainable. Early responders reportedly found him semi-conscious, covered in soot, lying several feet from the main fuselage. His body bore the bruises of impact, but his pulse refused to fade.
How he made it through — no one knows. Was it the seat he was in? The angle of descent? A divine twist of fate? He himself has not yet spoken, still recovering from injuries and shock. But the fragments of the scene offer a quiet testimony: that somehow, in the chaos, life chose him.
Eyewitnesses from nearby villages claim they heard a deafening boom and rushed toward the crash site, expecting only devastation. What they didn’t expect was a survivor — dazed, breathing, blinking against the smoke.
He has since been stabilised at a local hospital under close observation. Medical officials say his condition is improving, though he remains in a fragile state, physically and emotionally.
For now, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh remains silent — the lone keeper of 241 stories that ended too soon.
But when he speaks, the world will listen. Because this isn’t just a story of survival — it’s a reminder that even in catastrophe, a thread of life can remain unbroken.
The Future Doctors We Lost in the Flight Crash
They were 22, 23, maybe 24. Interns at BJ Medical College. Sons and daughters of middle-class families who had struggled through NEET exams, long nights, and exhausting rounds.
More than 40 of them were inside the hostel’s mess hall for lunch when the fuselage tore through the walls. They were in white coats. Plates in hand. Some with half-written assignments on their phones.
“They were about to become doctors. Now we’re preparing their death certificates,” said Dr. Meena Desai, a faculty member who arrived minutes after the crash.
The Indian Medical Association has announced a national condolence week and scholarship funds in their name.
A Familiar Face Lost: Former CM Vijay Rupani Died
Among the 242 passengers was Vijay Rupani, former Chief Minister of Gujarat. He was flying back from Delhi after a private visit. A seasoned BJP leader and administrator, Rupani had remained a respected voice in Gujarat’s political corridors even post-retirement.
His funeral is expected to be attended by top leaders from across party lines.
Government & Tata Group Response to the Air India Flight Crash
The Tata Group, which owns Air India, expressed “deep and irreparable sorrow” over the incident. Chairperson Natarajan Chandrasekaran called it “one of the darkest days in the history of Indian aviation.” An internal inquiry team has been formed and is cooperating with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
The Tata Group has announced a compensation of ₹1 crore to the families of the deceased. A commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice U.U. Lalit will probe the cause of the crash.
Indian government has declared June 13 as a National Day of Mourning.
Air India Flight Crash: Reactions from Across India and the World
The shockwaves went far beyond the wreckage site.
Bollywood celebrities took to social media:
- Shah Rukh Khan: “Absolutely heartbroken with the news about the crash in Ahmedabad… my prayers for the victims, their families and all affected.”
- Alia Bhatt: “This is devastating! My heart aches for al the passengers and crew..thoughts and prayers with everyone on board and their loved ones (sic),”
Cricket stars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma posted black screens with candle emojis and heartfelt messages.
Political leaders from across the spectrum — Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal — issued their condolences. President Murmu called it “a national heartbreak.”
Global leaders, including UK PM Rishi Sunak, Canada’s Justin Trudeau, and French President Emmanuel Macron, extended solidarity. The UN lowered its flag in Geneva in honour of the deceased.
Medical colleges in Australia, the US, and UK held vigils to honour the young doctors.
A Nation in Mourning: Images and Moments
The visual tapestry of grief in Ahmedabad cannot be erased:
- NDRF jawans carrying stretchers as sirens blare in the background.
- Mothers wailing outside the Civil Hospital morgue.
- Final-year MBBS students in white aprons, holding candles in a line outside the ruins of their hostel.
On social media, hashtags like #planecrash #AI171, #DoctorsWeLost, and #GoneTooSoon trended for over 24 hours.
Reflection: When the Sky Betrays Us
We often romanticize flight. Of chasing the clouds, defying gravity, rising higher. But June 12 reminded us that even the sky can betray.
India has witnessed tragic air disasters before — from the Air India Express crash in Kozhikode to the 1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision. But this one feels crueler. It did not just fall from the sky — it fell onto futures being written in hostel notebooks.
Questions are now being asked — about aviation safety, ageing aircraft, and emergency protocols. But today is not the day for answers. Today is the day for remembrance.
From The Peak View Stories: A Final Word
We are storytellers who trade in satire, smiles, and sometimes sarcasm. But today, there are no punchlines — only prayers.
To the families who’ve lost their world, we offer not just condolences but solidarity. To every doctor, every passenger, every crew member who lost their life aboard Flight AI171 — thank you for sharing your brief moment with us on this Earth.
You were flying home. Now you’ve flown beyond it.
May you rest in peace.
We will continue updating this story as new developments unfold — from investigation reports to memorial events. For real-time updates, verified reports, and tributes, follow The Peak View Stories on Instagram @thepeakviewstories.
If you were personally affected by this tragedy or wish to share a verified tribute or memory of someone aboard Flight AI-171, please reach out to us. Your voice deserves space.
Disclaimer: This report is based on publicly available news sources, government statements, and on-ground reports as of June 12, 2025. The situation is still developing, and some details may evolve as investigations continue. We have taken utmost care to report with empathy and accuracy. If any corrections or clarifications are needed, we welcome feedback at admin@peakviewstories.com.