Kathmandu, June 12, 2025 – A catastrophic Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat, India, has claimed the lives of 241 out of 242 passengers and crew aboard. The sole survivor, Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British citizen, miraculously escaped after being thrown from the wreckage. Indian media reports indicate Ramesh was seated in seat number 11.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Ramesh recounted the harrowing incident, stating, “Just 30 seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise, and the plane crashed. Everything was destroyed in moments.” While his survival has not been independently verified, reports confirm he is receiving treatment at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. Ramesh, who was returning to the UK with his brother Ajaykumar after visiting family in India, described the chaos that unfolded during the crash.

The ill-fated Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was en route to London when it crashed shortly after takeoff at 1:38 PM IST. The flight, operated by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar, carried 242 people, including 2 pilots, 10 cabin crew members, and 230 passengers. Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian. Notably, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was reportedly among those on board.

Air India confirmed the details via a statement on X, expressing condolences and cooperating with authorities investigating the cause of the crash. The tragedy has sent shockwaves across India and beyond, with rescue operations ongoing at the site.

Vijay Rupani Death:

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Vijay Rupani Death News: Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani died on Thursday after an Air India aircraft carrying him and 241 others crashed near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport airport in Ahmedabad in the afternoon, Union Minister of Jal Shakti and Gujarat BJP President CR Paatil announced on Thursday evening.

The London-bound flight AI 171, which Rupani took on Monday, was carrying 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian national, apart from two pilots and 10 cabin crew members.

Operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the flight took off around 1.47 pm, slightly delayed from its scheduled time, and went down just 9 minutes after being given clearance for take-off. Visuals of the accident, now being shared widely across social media, showed the flight crashing down and bursting into flames behind a cluster of concrete buildings in Ahmedabad.