The Air India Boeing 787 crash near Ahmedabad airport on June 12 left devastation on board and on the ground. With one passenger surviving and chaos in the residential zone below, the immediate aftermath was a mix of horror, heroism and grief.
Residents and rescue teams reported billowing smoke and collapsed buildings—some housing medical students—right after a mayday call. Ground casualties are still being verified, but eyewitnesses say at least 30 lives were lost in nearby hostels.
Moments of Chaos as Plane Spirals to Ground
The flight lifted off at 13:38 local time. Seconds later, its climb stalled. Witnesses described it as feeling like an earthquake.
One nearby resident said, “Everything was smoke.” Flames shot up, and emergency services raced toward carnage.
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Thick, black smoke covered the sky.
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Shrieks and people running from the corridor of damage.
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Rescue workers tied wet rags to their hands because of intense heat.
Buildings near the crash burst into flames. Students from the hostel ran into alleys for cover, some trapped inside. One firefighter later recalled battling fire and smoke “like a war zone.”
One Walking Miracle, Many Broken Memories
Against all odds, one person lived. Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, escaped through a broken emergency exit. He walked away, bloodied but breathing.
“Miracle,” rescue workers said. He’s now stable in hospital.
But the joy of one survivor did little to ease national grief. On board were 242 people, including 169 Indians and 53 British nationals. Over 240 perished, along with at least 30 on the ground.
Rescuers Risk All Amid Blazing Debris
Emergency crews arrived quickly. The State Disaster Response Force led about 70–80% of the extraction effort. Rescuers tied wet cloths to their hands to handle burning debris.
A makeshift command center was set up near the wreckage as a “war room” to coordinate rescue, medical support, and victim identification.
DNA and Black Box: Piecing Together the Tragedy
Bodies were badly burned, beyond recognition. Authorities rushed DNA tests to match remains with families.
Meanwhile, investigators recovered both flight recorders. The black box now holds the key to understanding engine performance and cockpit decisio
India’s AAIB, along with US bodies including the NTSB and FAA, will lead a joint investigation.
HMS Blueprint: Ground Casualties and Toll in Numbers
Take a look at how this crash’s impact compares:
| Category | Approximate Count |
|---|---|
| Onboard fatalities | ~240 |
| Ground deaths | 30–38 |
| Hospitalizations ground | 50+ |
| Sole survivor | 1 |
Victims include medical students hitting lunch in the hostel cafeteria—a brutal reminder life was happening below.
Personal Tales of Loss
Behind each number is a story. Harshit and Pooja Patel, a newlywed university couple from Leicester, came to India for a surprise visit. They went down with the flight, leaving devastated families who cling to hope but may never get closure.
Another plucky couple, Hardik and Vibhooti, had just gotten engaged last week. Their community in Leicester is in mourning. Emergency Changes and Future Safety Measures
Regulators are taking swift action. Air India has been ordered to inspect all Boeing 787s with GE GEnx engines.
Experts are probing wing flaps, engine thrust, and crew responses—basic but vital. theguardianThis marks the first fatal 787 accident since 2011, and the deadliest Boeing crash for India since 1996.
Local Heroics off the Clock
Courage showed up even after the crash. Dr. Pratik Chaudhary, a urologist, rushed into his blazing home to save his family. He returned them safely—his family is shaken, but alive. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Countless neighbors lent hands, faiths intertwined, tears shared. From chaos came compassion.
