On June 12, an Air India aircraft crashed in Ahmedabad. In response, the central government has set up a high-level committee to probe the incident. Here’s a detailed look at what has unfolded so far and how the investigation will be carried out:
What happened in the crash
- On June 12, an Air India flight AI‑171 from Ahmedabad to London crashed just seconds after takeoff. Among the 242 people onboard, 241 lost their lives. The wreckage ignited a fierce blaze, severely burning many victims, whose identities are being confirmed via DNA.
- This incident ranks among India’s most devastating aviation disasters. The aircraft collided with a hostel building, tragically housing several medical interns. To date, 265 fatalities have been confirmed—241 passengers and crew, along with 24 hostel residents.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crashsite, including meeting the sole survivor, Vishwash Ramesh.
Flight details and crew
- The flight departed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 PM IST, crashing by 1:39 PM—a mere minute into the flight. The aircraft was a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner with 242 people onboard: 169 Indians, 53 Britons, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian.
- Captain Sumit Sabharwal and co-pilot Clive Sundar were at the controls. A distress call (“Mayday”) was transmitted before the crash. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the deceased.
Fuel and fire
- The Dreamliner was carrying approximately 125,000 litres of fuel. According to PTI reports, the crash resulted in a massive explosion, with temperatures reaching around 1,000 °C—resulting in nearly total incineration of the aircraft and onboard occupants.
Black box recovery
- The aircraft’s black box was recovered from the roof of a building at B. J. Medical College by investigators.
About black boxes
- These are robust flight recorders, typically made from titanium or stainless steel, designed to survive extreme conditions: up to 3,400 g of force, 1,000 °C for an hour, and 30 days at 6,000 meters underwater.
