The Aftermath of Tragedy — Air India AI171 Crash and a Nation in Mourning

By Doon Mozaic News | June 13, 2025

India woke up on Thursday to one of the darkest chapters in its aviation history, as Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route to London, crashed into the rooftop of a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad. Carrying 242 souls — 230 passengers and 12 crew members — the aircraft erupted into a fireball moments after takeoff, leaving only one survivor. The confirmed death toll continues to rise, with conflicting numbers emerging from government sources and rescue teams, ranging from 241 to 260, including students in the hostel below.

A Blazing Inferno at 1,000°C

The crash triggered an inferno of unimaginable intensity. Officials from the fire department confirmed temperatures soared to around 1,000 degrees Celsius, fueled by an estimated 1.25 lakh litres of aviation fuel. “It was an explosion unlike anything I’ve seen in my 17 years of service,” said a senior SDRF officer. Rescue operations were paralyzed in the early hours, with first responders navigating burning debris in PPE kits, many forced to retreat before pushing forward again.

This fiery scene echoed the intensity of volcanic lava, making escape nearly impossible and reducing wreckage to mangled remains. Eyewitnesses described a “massive fireball followed by rising black smoke,” a visual that now haunts the city.

The Victims and the Heroes

Among the victims were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian, along with the 12-member crew. The pilots, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar, had 8,200 and 1,100 flying hours respectively. Both perished in the cockpit. In a chilling coincidence, Kundar was the cousin of actor Vikrant Massey and had once been involved in another critical flight operation — only to meet his end here.

At least 50 students inside the hostel suffered injuries, while countless others were saved due to swift evacuation efforts by hostel staff and emergency responders.

Investigation Underway

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a comprehensive probe, assisted by experts from the United States and the United Kingdom. The black box was recovered from the rooftop of the hostel by NDRF teams on Friday. Officials will now sift through cockpit recordings and flight data to determine the exact sequence of failure.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the site on Thursday, confirmed the magnitude of the crash and took stock of the damage. In a review meeting, he assured that DNA testing, identification, and repatriation of remains would be handled with utmost care, compassion, and state support. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too visited the injured and held a high-level emergency briefing in Ahmedabad.

Operational and Emotional Fallout

The crash has had a ripple effect across the aviation world. Air India diverted multiple international flights after Iran closed its airspace in response to escalating regional tensions. Passengers traveling between India and Europe via West Asia continue to face disruptions.

Meanwhile, stories of heartbreak and near-miraculous escapes are emerging. One woman who missed the flight “by just 10 minutes” spoke of being “shaken to her core.” Families who lost loved ones — including one couple who had already lost a son in a previous aviation tragedy — are reeling in unspeakable grief.

The Questions That Remain

Why did this happen? Was it a technical failure, human error, or sabotage? These are questions the investigation will have to answer. But for now, a nation mourns — not just the lives lost, but the breach of trust in what was supposed to be a routine international journey.

In this tragedy, India has seen both devastation and resilience. The responders, the medical teams, and the city of Ahmedabad have stood united in grief, and action.

But the scars of AI171 will not fade quickly.