A preliminary investigation into the Air India flight AI171 crash has revealed some important information. This horrific tragedy occurred on June 12, 2023. As usual with these crashes, the aircraft went down into a highly populated residential area (not uncommon in Ahmedabad). Tragically, 241 people on board and 19 people on the ground were killed. The aircraft hit a hostel for medical students associated with the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College. This friendly hostel is located just outside the airport.
Passengers onboard included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. The tragedy took many lives, including that of Ajay Ramesh, brother of the single survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh. Ramesh was rescued through a hole in the fuselage and could hardly believe that he survived against the backdrop of such destruction.
On June 13, investigators pulled one of the jet’s black box recorders from the roof of a nearby building. The second black box, which records cockpit conversations, was discovered on June 16 within the crash debris. The cockpit voice recorder documented one pilot’s last plea, asking urgently why they had cut off the fuel supply. With this pivotal moment came new urgency to the inquiry.
The flight achieved its maximum recorded airspeed of 180 knots indicated airspeed at approximately 08:08:42 UTC. About seven seconds later, both engine fuel cutoff switches changed position from RUN to CUTOFF. The two events happened only one second apart.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has launched a continuing investigation into the circumstances leading to the crash. At press time, there are no further recommended actions for operators or manufacturers of the Boeing 787-8 and GE GEnx-1B engine. That should have been obvious at this point.
As part of its statement, Air India shared their solidarity with those families that suffered loss during this unfortunate accident. Air India remains with the families and others impacted by the AI171 accident in the solidarity. We continue to mourn the loss,” said an Air India spokesperson. “We are wholly committed to supporting through this trying time.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh made a long, painful journey back from the edge of death to share his story. Unreal that I survived and couldn’t believe it. In that instant, all my thoughts turned to panic and I thought I was going to die. Then I opened my eyes and surveyed the scene, and relief washed over me—I was still alive! At the same time, I’m just shocked that I even made it,” he said. He further described his escape: I was able to unbuckle myself, squeezed my leg through that gap, pushed out with my leg and crawled out. I don’t know how I survived.
As those investigations are still underway, many aviation experts are focusing on the chain of events that led to this fatal crash. John Cox, an aviation safety expert, highlighted the significance of equipment reliability in such scenarios: “You can’t bump them and they move.”