A tragic air accident in India: the toll rises with at least 265 victims
A tragic plane crash in India has left a devastating mark on 2025. Air India Flight AI171, flying from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after takeoff, sending shockwaves through the country and beyond. The death toll continues to rise, with at least 265 people killed. The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members when the tragedy occurred.
First details of the Air India Boeing crash in Ahmedabad
Flight AI171 had barely taken off this Thursday when, seconds later, it crashed into a residential area of Ahmedabad. Local police confirmed that 265 bodies had been recovered, including 24 from damaged buildings. It was one of the worst air disasters the country has seen in recent years. Several passengers were reportedly injured, and all were transferred to nearby hospitals. A Sole Survivor: The Heartbreaking Story of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh
The sole survivor of the crash, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, called his father immediately after the accident. His words offered a heartbreaking approach to the tragedy: “I don’t know how I’m alive,” he explained. His account, already deeply moving, also spoke of the bodies around him and the chaos generated by the crash.
In response to this tragedy, American investigators from the NTSB and British investigators from the AAIB were dispatched to India to assist in the investigation. Indian authorities find themselves managing a complex situation, between the need to treat the remaining victims, gather information on the causes of the crash, and reassure the families of the other passengers.
International reactions were swift.
- Messages of support poured in, including from Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
- The Pope expressed his sadness, as did other heads of state.
- Passengers’ countries of origin
| Number of passengers | India |
|---|---|
| 169 | United Kingdom |
| 53 | Portugal |
| 7 | Canada |
| 1 | The impact on the Indian airline industry |
The Air India crash shook the aviation world. Boeing’s shares plunged on Wall Street, reflecting a loss of confidence, even though this aircraft model has never experienced a major accident before. Beyond the financial consequences, this incident could lead to increased attention to flight safety among Indian airlines, such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, Jet Airways, and Vistara, which, in turn, could face more rigorous inspections. What Airlines Should Remember After This Tragedy
The aviation industry now faces a list of challenges to strengthen safety:
Reviewing domestic security protocols.
Evaluating aircraft equipment and technology in service.
- Training and raising personnel awareness of the risk of accidents.
- The steps are raising growing concerns.
- The bodies of the victims continue to arrive at medical facilities, while the passengers’ families desperately await news. The legislative decree on aviation investigations will likely be invoked to ensure transparency and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWps9v0iF58
For more details on the circumstances surrounding this tragic air accident, you can consult articles on websites such as
, Jean Marc Morandini, and RFI.
