What Caused the Air India Plane Crash in Ahmedabad? Black Box, Pilot Call, and More Explained

What Caused the Air India Plane Crash in Ahmedabad? Black Box, Pilot Call, and More Explained

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner (registration VT‑ANB), crashed in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, minutes after takeoff. The London‑bound flight, carrying 242 passengers and crew, plunged into a residential area, destroying a hostel block at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport and causing one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters.  

📌 Key Facts at a Glance

Flight & Aircraft Details

Flight: AI 171, Ahmedabad → London Gatwick

Aircraft: Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner (VT‑ANB)  

Occupants: 230 passengers and 12 crew  

Timing: Departed at ~13:38 IST, crashed ~30 seconds later at ~650 ft altitude  

Human Toll

Onboard Fatalities: 241

Ground Fatalities: 33+

Injured on ground: 60+

Survivors: Only one passenger – Viswashkumar Ramesh, who says he “just walked out” of the burning wreckage  

Crash Site

Destroyed and engulfed in flames was a building belonging to B.J. Medical College in the densely packed Meghaninagar neighborhood. Dramatic CCTV and bystander videos captured the aircraft's stalled ascent, nosedive, and explosion.  

🔍 Eyewitness & Survivor Accounts

CCTV footage shows AI 171 struggling to gain altitude and then falling into a fireball 2 km from the runway.  

Survivor Viswashkumar Ramesh recalled broken cabin doors allowing him to escape: “I thought I would die… I saw that space and I just jumped out.”  

A local teen’s viral terrace video of the plane seconds before the crash has been described as “one of the strongest pieces of evidence.”  

🔧 Investigation & Black Box Retrieval

Initial Inquiry

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the probe with assistance from the US NTSB, UK AAIB, Boeing, and GE Aerospace.  

Black Boxes

Both the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder were retrieved—one from a rooftop at the crash site—within 28 hours post-crash.  

Experts anticipate voice recordings and performance data will reveal if engine failure, flap/gear misconfiguration, or other technical issues were factors.  

Probable Technical Focus Areas

Investigators are examining the engines, electronic engine control systems, wing flap settings, and landing gear—after indications of improper configuration emerged.  

⚠️ Regulatory & Broader Impact

Immediate Safety Measures

India's DGCA ordered urgent safety inspections on all 34 Air India 787‑8/‑9 aircraft fitted with GEnx engines, focusing on power systems and takeoff parameters to be completed within two weeks.  

Global Response

Boeing and GE are fully cooperating. US Transportation Secretary emphasized the importance of data before determining any grounding of the Dreamliner fleet.  

Humanitarian Actions

Tata Group (Air India’s parent) announced ₹1 crore (≈USD 116k) compensation per deceased and pledged medical support.  

💔 Aftermath & National Response

Death Toll: Recovery efforts have located at least 270 bodies, many beyond recognition and undergoing DNA testing.  

State Support: PM Narendra Modi visited the disaster site and civil hospital in Ahmedabad, meeting with the survivor and injured, pledging full support.  

International Condolences: Messages came in from UK, US, Pakistan; British PM Keir Starmer and King Charles expressed deep sorrow.  

📋 Why Did It Happen? Technical & Potential Causes

Though the final cause remains under investigation, the black boxes and footage are expected to shed light on:

1. Engine anomalies or stall shortly after lift-off.

2. Flap or landing gear misconfiguration hindering climb performance.

3. Electronic Engine Control System (EEC) malfunctions disrupting thrust.

4. Potential procedural errors during pre-flight or take-off checks.

Investigators are looking closely at whether a "Mayday" call was initiated less than a minute into the flight.  

✍️ Final Thoughts

The crash of Air India Flight 171 marks a devastating milestone in Indian aviation—it’s the first fatal loss of a Boeing 787, and the deadliest air disaster since 1996. The outcome of the black box analysis will determine not only the cause but could trigger global regulatory changes for the Dreamliner fleet.

🇮🇳 Present Situation (June 14, 2025)

Death toll now at ~270–274, including 241 onboard, 33 on ground, and others injured; recovery efforts continue with ongoing DNA confirmation of remains .

Black boxes recovered: The Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder were retrieved—one from the hostel rooftop—though the CVR remains under analysis; this data is central to the investigation .

Pilot’s final “Mayday” call: The captain declared emergency less than a minute after rotation, reaching ~650 ft, then began an abrupt descent .

Ongoing investigations: India's AAIB leads with international support from the US NTSB, UK AAIB, Boeing, GE Aerospace, and anti-terror agencies .

🛠️ Government Measures & Regulatory Scrutiny

1. High-Level Multi-disciplinary Panel

Chaired by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, with representatives from Civil Aviation, IAF, AAIB, DGCA, etc.

Mandated to:

Uncover root causes

Review SOPs and emergency readiness

Recommend policy, operational, and training improvements

To submit report within 3 months .

2. DGCA Fleet-wide Checks

Ordered inspections on all Boeing 787‑8/‑9 aircraft operated in India (~34 units)

Focus: takeoff parameters, control surfaces, engine systems, landing gear, flaps, cabin compressors .

Possibility of temporary grounding (under discussion) until initial findings emerge .

3. Anti-terror & Central Coordination

NIA and NSG teams involved as precaution, though no terrorism link has been found

NDRF, CRPF, army, civil authorities, state & central, mobilized swiftly for rescue and site management .

🏢 Tata Group & Air India Response

1. Compensation & Immediate Aid

Tata Sons pledges ₹1 Crore (~$116,000) per fatality

Air India adds interim ₹25 Lakh (~$29,000) to expedite payments

Medical covers for injured, including ground victims .

2. Support Infrastructure

~100 caregivers and 40+ engineers sent to Ahmedabad

Family assistance centers opened in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, London to provide travel, lodging, psychological aid .

Care calls by CEO Campbell Wilson; Air India’s social media profile temporarily changed to black in mourning .

3. Corporate Engagement & Cooperation

Tata commits to “full transparency, support for victims’ families, and complete cooperation” in investigations .

Air India CEO halted international travel to oversee crisis response .

📣 Impact on Tata-Owned Air India

This is the first fatal crash under Tata leadership since its 2022 acquisition and modernization efforts.

Despite ongoing aircraft upgrades, this disaster raises questions on the airline’s maintenance protocols, crew training, and oversight effectiveness.

Tata’s dual role as owner and primary insurer puts its reputation at stake; proactive compensation and support may help preserve customer trust.

The outcome of the high-level report will likely influence future fleet investment, risk assessment, and brand positioning.

🔎 What to Watch For Next

Area What to Expect

Black Box Analysis Revealing technical vs. human error – expected over coming weeks

Fleet Grounding Decision DGCA weighing FAA/CAA advice; may happen if systemic fault is found

Panel Report Formal SOP recommendations, safety reforms within 3 months

Tata/Air India Strategy Focus on communications, MRO (Maintenance Repair Overhaul) investment, perhaps enhanced training

📌 Summary

Human tragedy: ~270 lives lost, one survivor, communities shattered in Ahmedabad.

Regulatory drive: Government-led high-level committee + DGCA’s fleet inspections.

Corporate accountability: Tata/Air India offering swift compensation, systems for affected families, deep collaboration with investigators.

Reputational test: The incident challenges Tata’s regained stewardship of Air India; their response could define the brand’s future trust and safety narrative.

✈️ Flight & Passenger Overview

Flight: AI 171, Ahmedabad → London Gatwick

Aircraft: Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner (tail number VT‑ANB)  

Occupants: 242 total — 230 passengers (216 adults, 12 children, 2 infants) and 12 crew (2 pilots, 10 cabin crew)  

Nationalities:

169 Indian

53 British

7 Portuguese

1 Canadian 

Among these were notable individuals:

Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani (Indian)  

A grieving couple from Agra, Neeraj and Aparna Lavania, traveling to London, both confirmed deceased; DNA samples have been provided by their daughter for identification  

Infant Rudra Modha, along with his mother and grandmother—victims of alleged bribery boarding irregularities—also died  

🧑‍✈️ Crew Profile

Captain Sumeet Sabharwal: 60 years old, over 8,200 flight hours, serving as instructor-pilot  

First Officer Clive Kundar: Approximately 1,100 flight hours  

All 12 crew members tragically perished in the disaster.

🕊️ The Sole Survivor: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh

The single survivor from AI 171, Vishwash (Viswashkumar) Kumar Ramesh, now age ~40, is a British national of Indian origin, originally from Diu, India, and settled in Leicester, UK. He had returned to India with his brother Ajay Kumar Ramesh to tend to a family fishing business .

Seat: 11A (near emergency exit); evidence suggests he may have last-minute selected this seat over 11J, where his brother was seated  

Injuries: Sustained burns to the chest, eyes, and feet; physically disoriented after crawling out of the wreckage  

Escape: He remembers hearing a "Mayday" call and a loud jolt. Miraculously, the fuselage in his seat section separated, allowing him to jump out before the inferno  

Current Status: Admitted to Civil Hospital in Asarwa, Ahmedabad. Under armed guard, he’s stable and conscious under Post-Crash care. UK consular officials and PM Modi have visited him in the hospital  

Deep sorrow shadows his survival, as he lost his brother Ajay in the crash. His return to the UK is delayed pending recovery and investigation protocols.

🔍 Passenger Impact & Identification

Ground fatality response: 33+ deaths on the ground (students, hostel staff, bystanders); 60+ injured  

Recovery operations: Over 270 bodies have been retrieved (241 onboard + 33+ ground victims). DNA testing continues across hospital morgues  

Families of victims—including groups of Indians, British tourists, and Portuguese nationals—are engaged in a painful identification process. DNA samples are being collected, as in the case of the Lavania family from Agra .

🧭 Where Things Stand Now

1. Investigation: AAIB leads, supported by DGCA, NTSB (US), UK AAIB, Boeing, GE, and anti-terror agencies. Both Flight Data and Cockpit Voice Recorders were recovered intact for detailed analysis .

2. Regulatory Measures: DGCA has ordered urgent inspections of all Boeing 787s in India. Fleet grounding is under consideration depending on black-box findings .

3. Support for Families: Air India/Tata Group provide financial aid (₹1 Crore per death + ₹25 Lakh interim), medical & psychological assistance, travel aid, and staff at assistance centers in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai, and London .

4. Ground Response: NDRF, NSG, CRPF deployed for rescue; land corridors opened; airport operations temporarily halted as damage and safety checks continue .

5. International Focus: UK, US, and Canada are assisting. UK PM and King Charles sent condolences, liaising with Vishwash. Portfolios of victims from all nations are being handled diplomatically .

📝 Summary

Air India Flight AI 171 carried a diverse group — 169 Indians, 53 Brits, 7 Portuguese, and a Canadian, including political, professional, and tourist passengers. The tragic loss of nearly all onboard, combined with tens of ground fatalities, marks this as India’s most catastrophic aviation event since 1996.

The miracle survival of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh—seated in 11A—and his heart-wrenching loss of his brother encapsulate the human dimensions of this tragedy.

As investigations proceed using black-box data, national authorities intensify safety and support measures. For families and communities worldwide, the coming weeks will be pivotal in understanding what went wrong—and preventing future loss.

⚠️ Disclaimer:

> All the information provided in this article has been gathered through online sources and public news reports. I have written this article purely based on research, and I do not claim any official authority.

If any information is found to be incorrect or outdated, I am not responsible for it. However, if you notice any errors or have updated details, feel free to contact me — I will do my best to correct them as soon as possible.