…The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was considered one of the safest aircraft before the incident
…By Sodeeq Kamsela, with Agency Reports
The death toll from Thursday’s India Air Flight AI171 crash is inching towards 300 persons, including ground victims, making the incident one of the deadliest air disasters in the country’s history.
The tragedy occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, as the aircraft was en route to London. Only one of the 242 passengers and crewmembers aboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner survived the fatal crash.
The lone survivor, a British national identified as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, walked out of the wreckage with serious injuries.
Tragically, the aircraft crashed into a residential area near B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad, striking a hostel building and a canteen filled with medical students and staff.
Indian health officials revealed, according to a CNN Report, that at least 290 people are dead.
Aviation experts told Naija Daily News that the incident is the first fatal incident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its introduction into commercial service.
India’s aviation regulator has since ordered Air India to conduct immediate inspections on its entire fleet of 787 8 and 787 9 aircraft.
The cause of the crash is not yet confirmed, but preliminary reports suggest a possible mechanical failure during takeoff.
Investigators from India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are working alongside Boeing, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and visited the site to oversee relief efforts. Flags flew at half-mast across Gujarat as the nation mourned the devastating loss of life.
The passengers included families returning from Eid celebrations, international students, and professionals travelling to the UK under various visa programs. The crash has triggered a wave of grief across India and abroad, as tributes pour in for the victims.
