By: Dr Avi Verma

We are profoundly saddened by the devastating crash of Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, which occurred on June 12, 2025, shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The aircraft, carrying 242 people, tragically crashed into a residential and medical college area in the Meghani Nagar neighborhood, claiming the lives of at least 240 individuals—passengers, crew, and persons on the ground. 

Our grief extends deeply to every victim and every shattered family. These were lives full of promise: 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, one Canadian, passengers, crew, students eating lunch in the hostel—and more. The scene of charred devastation, smoky wreckage, and frantic rescue efforts underscores the magnitude of this catastrophe. 

Miraculously, one man—Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British–Indian—survived, severely injured but awake. He was seated near an emergency exit and pulled to safety, evidence of extraordinary bravery and response from local emergency teams. 

With the debris still smoldering, emergency personnel—including firefighters, paramedics, and Indian Army units—continue the arduous task of recovery and relief. Ahmedabad’s police and state officials report over 200 bodies recovered, with several injuries, particularly among medical students whose hostel was struck. 

No Indications of Terrorism — Yet

There is currently no credible evidence of terrorist activity or foul play. Aviation experts and official reports indicate mechanical issues—possibly engine failure, flight-control misconfiguration, or loss of power—may be involved. 

Demanding a full, transparent investigation

This tragedy raises critical questions: Was it pilot error? A technical failure? A design flaw? Or a failure in safety protocols? We echo global calls for an immediate, thorough, and independent inquiry led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with full support from Boeing, the U.S. NTSB, and the U.K. AAIB. Every component—from engines to black box data—must be analyzed with transparency. Accountability must be swift: whether with the airline, its safety practices, Boeing, or any other party implicated in this preventable tragedy. 

The world stands united in sorrow

Global leaders, including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, U.K. PM Keir Starmer, and Boeing’s CEO Kelly Ortberg, have expressed profound grief and pledged support. Britain and the U.S. are dispatching expert teams to assist. Boeing has offered full cooperation with Indian authorities. 

A call to justice and vigilance

While the emotional toll may never heal, justice demands action:

• Families deserve truth, clarity, and redress for their unthinkable loss.
• Civil and criminal accountability must extend to those whose negligence contributed.
• Global transparency in airline practices and aircraft design is imperative to prevent future tragedies.

This is not only Ahmedabad’s loss—it is ours. It is global aviation’s warning that complacency has no place where lives are at stake.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims, the injured, the rescue workers, and every person affected. We stand in solidarity with Ahmedabad and the global Indian diaspora in this hour of mourning.

May we honor their memory by demanding transparency, ensuring justice, and making safety our lasting legacy.