The Deadliest Air Tragedy in India in Over 30 Years
On June 12, 2025, Air India crash Flight 171 crashed seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, ironically named for the promise of a new life it symbolized, shattered the lives of hundreds. The impact site — the BJ Medical College hostel — added to the devastation, claiming the lives of unsuspecting students on the ground.
A Young Man’s Visa, a Family’s Dreams
Sahil Patel, a 25-year-old from Sarod village in Gujarat, had just won a coveted UK visa through the India Young Professionals Scheme. His family rejoiced at the chance for a better future — but that dream was extinguished in the blaze. “Will they give him back to us in a closed box?” his father asked. For a family that once imagined London, now only grief and ashes remain.
Families United in Celebration, Destroyed in Seconds
The Syed family, who had been visiting India from London to celebrate Eid al-Adha, were wiped out in the crash. Syed Inayat Ali, his wife Nafisa Bano, and their two young children boarded the plane after joyful family reunions. The only trace of Nafisa was a gold pendant — all that remained to identify her Air India crash.
“They were so happy,” said a relative at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, holding a photo taken at the airport. “Now, only memories remain.”
A Student’s Lunch, A Crew Member’s Pride
Medical student Rakesh Deora was finishing lunch in the BJ College mess hall when the Dreamliner tore through the building. The second-year student, known for his disdain for white coats, was killed instantly. On board, Irfan, a 22-year-old cabin crew member from a modest background, died doing the job he loved. His father cried out, “Why my child?” before collapsing to the floor, shattered by loss.
Rescue Workers Shattered by the Scene
Tofiq Mansuri, a veteran rescue worker, described the emotional breakdown of his team after discovering the charred body of a small child. “We’re trained for this,” he said, “but not for that.” For hours, they carried body bags, hoping to restore dignity to the dead. But the emotional toll was etched on every face.
Survivors and Guilt in Meghaninagar
Nearby resident Tara Ben recounted the horror as flames roared overhead. “God saved us,” she whispered, “but took so many others.” In critical care, rickshaw driver Rajesh Patel fights for life, his body burned by the blast’s heat just meters from ground zero. His wife prays silently outside the ICU.
Hospital Chaos and DNA Despair
At Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, bodies continued arriving well into the evening — charred, fragmented, and often unrecognizable. Families were asked for DNA samples. Some collapsed. One mother refused to believe her son had died, screaming, “He promised he’d return!”
Many families refused to leave the hospital, clinging to hope, praying for miracles. For them, the world outside the morgue had ceased to exist.
Conclusion: A Nation in Mourning
The Air India crash of 2025 isn’t just a national tragedy — it’s an intimate wound that touched thousands. A scholarship lost, a wedding celebrated too soon, a child’s pendant in the ashes — these are not just headlines, but heartbreaks that demand accountability, reform, and compassion.
As investigations begin into what caused the Boeing 787 to crash, families across India ask not only for answers — but for peace, dignity, and remembrance.
Related Reading:
- India’s Aviation Crisis: A Timeline of Warnings
- Full Al Jazeera Report on Air India Flight 171 Crash
