🕊️ The Day the Sky Fell Over Gujarat — Reflections on the 13 June Plane Crash in Ahmedabad

Published: June 14, 2025 | By: The Daily India Voice

✈️ A Normal Day That Turned Tragic

June 13, 2025, started just like any other Friday in ahmedabad. The afternoon sun baked the city’s skyline, people bustled through their routines, and students at BJ Medical College sat down for lunch in their hostel. At the same time, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 dreamliner, lifted off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, bound for London.

Moments later, everything changed.

The aircraft, carrying 242 people, lost control seconds after takeoff. What was supposed to be a peaceful international flight turned into a catastrophic nosedive into the heart of the city.

The plane slammed into the hostel block of BJ Medical College in the Meghaninagar area. The explosion and fireball that followed were visible across Ahmedabad. The silence that followed the boom was only broken by screams, sirens, and a choking black smoke cloud that blotted out the sun.

💔 The Human Toll

The scale of the loss is staggering. Out of the 242 people on board—including passengers, pilots, and crew—241 lives were lost. Only one man, British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, miraculously survived. His tale of survival is the only light in this otherwise dark chapter.

On the ground, 33 people, mostly students and staff inside the hostel, also lost their lives. Survivors described the crash as feeling like an earthquake. Plates flew, ceilings cracked, and then—fire.

“We were just eating… Suddenly, it felt like the world was ending,” one medical student recalled. “I couldn’t even find my shoes.”

Rescue workers, fire brigades, and local volunteers rushed to the scene. But the jet fuel — over 1.25 Lakh liters — ignited an inferno that made rescue nearly impossible in the early minutes.

🔍 What Went Wrong?

The investigation is still in its early stages, but here’s what we know so far:

Flight control issues: Initial data shows the plane may have struggled with flap malfunctions, engine thrust asymmetry, and gear deployment issues just moments after takeoff.
The black boxes have been recovered and sent to New Delhi for analysis.
The DGCA (India's aviation regulator) has grounded similar aircraft for immediate inspection.
Teams from Boeing, GE Aerospace, the NTSB (USA), and the UK's Civil Aviation Authority are now working with Indian investigators.

A full report is expected in the coming months, but early signs point to a catastrophic failure in the aircraft’s takeoff configuration.

🧍‍♂️ The Sole Survivor: A Story of Miracles

31-year-old Vishwashkumar Ramesh, seated in 11A, told authorities that he had noticed something off before takeoff — fluctuating cabin temperature and unusually loud mechanical sounds. After the crash, he somehow found himself near a broken exit, managed to crawl out, and ran for his life—barefoot and bleeding.

“I thought I was going to die. I was sure of it,” he told reporters. “But then I saw light… I don’t know how I lived.”

🇮🇳 National Grief and Global Shock

Leaders across India expressed their sorrow. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site and met with the sole survivor and victim families. Home Minister Amit Shah called it the “most devastating crash India has seen in decades” and promised every resource for both relief and investigation.

Support hotlines, DNA identification teams, and compensation packages have been set up by the government and Air India (Tata Group).

Across social media, hashtags like #AI171, #AhmedabadCrash, and #PrayForGujarat trended globally as condolences poured in from around the world.

✈️ A Sad First for the Dreamliner

This crash marks the first-ever fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a jet once hailed for its safety record and cutting-edge tech. For India, it’s the deadliest air disaster in over a decade.

It’s also a grim reminder that even the most advanced aircraft are not immune to failure—and that safety must always come before speed or efficiency.

🕯️ What We Take From This

There’s no soft way to say this: Gujarat, India, and the world lost so many bright futures that day. Doctors, students, families, and travelers—gone in a matter of seconds.

But amid the ashes, stories of bravery have emerged.

Firefighters who entered the burning hostel without hesitation.
Medical students who pulled their friends out of the rubble before the ambulances arrived.
Local residents who brought water, bedsheets, and first-aid to the injured.

These moments remind us that humanity can rise even in tragedy.

🧠 The Road Ahead

We will know more as black box data is analyzed and the official report comes out. But for now, aviation authorities are taking no chances. India’s entire Dreamliner fleet is under intense scrutiny. International regulators are watching closely.

If this terrible event leads to improved safety, better oversight, and more rigorous checks, perhaps the lives lost won’t be in vain.

🙏 In Memory

To the 274 souls who lost their lives on 13 June in Ahmedabad, may you rest in peace. You are not forgotten. And to those left behind—you are not alone.

Author's note:
As someone who lives just a few kilometers from the crash site, I heard the blast. I saw the smoke. And like many of you, I spent the rest of the day in shock, scrolling for updates, praying for miracles, and mourning strangers. This blog isn’t just about aviation—it’s about loss, resilience, and the haunting fragility of everyday life.

Let us honor them not just with flowers and tears, but with real action and care.

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