A devastating plane crash occurred in Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday, June 12, 2025, claiming the lives of at least 270 people. The London-bound Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people, lost altitude seconds after takeoff and crashed into a residential area. The impact and subsequent fire killed all but one person on board and several others on the ground.
The sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, was hospitalized with impact wounds but is reportedly “doing very well and will be ready to be discharged any time soon,” according to Dr. Dhaval Gameti of Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad. Ramesh recounted his terrifying experience, saying, “I realised I was alive” after witnessing other passengers die.
The crash site has been cordoned off, with rescue teams working tirelessly to identify the bodies. Most bodies were charred or mutilated, and local authorities are working to identify them by matching DNA samples. Authorities said it normally takes up to 72 hours to complete DNA matching. Nearly 10 bodies found at the crash site, not belonging to passengers, have been returned to their families after identification.
India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, said the flight’s digital data recorder, or black box, was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is leading the investigation into the crash, working to extract data that will reveal information about engine and control settings.
Jeff Guzzetti, an aviation safety consultant, said investigators will likely look into whether wing flaps were set correctly, the engine lost power, and if the plane’s crew correctly logged information about the hot temperature outside and the weight of the fuel and passengers. Boeing, the planemaker, has offered support to Air India, stating it is “ready to support them” over the incident.
Meanwhile, cries have continued to rent the air from families who lost their beloved in the Fatal carsh.