The horrifying Ahmedabad plane crash of June 12, 2025, has shaken the entire nation and brought global attention to Air India’s worst aviation tragedy in decades. Of the 242 people on board Air India’s AI-171 flight, 241 lost their lives when the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff, devastating families across India and abroad.
Now, with updated official data, 215 victims have been identified through DNA matching, and 198 mortal remains have been handed over to grieving families. The lone survivor, 40-year-old British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, carries a painful story of loss, hope, and survival.
Here’s a complete report on the crash, identification process, and aftermath.
The Tragedy Unfolds: What Happened?
On June 12, 2025, Air India’s AI-171 Dreamliner took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad, for a scheduled journey to London. Moments after liftoff, technical failure led to a horrifying crash into the hostel complex of BJ Medical College.
- Casualties: 241 dead out of 242 on board
- Survivor: 1 (Vishwash Kumar Ramesh)
Eyewitnesses recall terrifying scenes as flames engulfed the site, with rescue workers battling smoke and debris to save lives. Unfortunately, by the time help arrived, the scale of destruction had already claimed nearly all onboard.
DNA Identification Process: Latest Updates
In a situation where most bodies were charred beyond recognition, DNA matching became the only way to confirm identities.
As of June 20, 2025, Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Superintendent Dr. Rakesh Joshi provided a detailed update:
✅ 215 DNA samples have been matched successfully.
✅ 198 mortal remains have been handed over to families.
Breakdown of the 198 Identified Victims:
| Nationality | Number of Victims |
|---|---|
| 🇮🇳 Indians | 149 |
| 🇬🇧 British | 32 |
| 🇵🇹 Portuguese | 7 |
| 🇨🇦 Canadian | 1 |
Of the mortal remains, 183 were transported by road in ambulances, and 15 were sent via air to their respective hometowns or countries.
Police Confirmation and Victim Count
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik earlier confirmed that 222 victims had been identified:
- 214 through DNA samples
- 8 identified without DNA via other evidence like belongings or tattoos
Still, several families await closure as mortal remains of 17 identified victims have yet to be handed over, pending paperwork and procedural formalities.
The Story of the Lone Survivor: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh
Amidst the tragedy emerged the story of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national seated on 11A during the ill-fated flight.
- Age: 40 years
- Seat: 11A (near emergency exit)
- Survivor’s Testimony:
“When I saw that the door of the plane was broken, I told myself that I can try and get out. Eventually, I came out of the plane.”
Vishwash miraculously survived with multiple fractures and burns. Discharged after a week-long battle in the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, he personally carried the remains of his younger brother Ajay Ramesh to Diu for cremation.
His emotional farewell to his brother on June 18 was one of the most heart-wrenching images from this tragedy.
Global Impact and Mourning
With victims from India, UK, Portugal, and Canada, the crash sent shockwaves across international communities.
- Indian Ministry of External Affairs coordinated with British, Portuguese, and Canadian Embassies for expediting DNA matches, postmortems, and handing over mortal remains.
- Condolences poured in from global leaders, including:
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- UK Prime Minister Rachel Reeves
- Portugal President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
- Canadian PM Justin Trudeau
Investigation and Accountability
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), along with Air India internal safety audit teams, has launched a thorough investigation.
Possible Reasons Under Review:
- Engine Failure
- Avionics Malfunction
- Human Error (being examined)
- Maintenance Gaps (Previous reports indicated complaints about that specific aircraft’s maintenance logs)
Boeing, the manufacturer of the 787-8 Dreamliner, has also sent technical teams to assist in black box decoding and crash site analysis.
Compensation and Legal Proceedings
Air India, under public pressure, has announced an initial compensation package:
- ₹1 crore for families of deceased Indian passengers
- $200,000 for foreign nationals’ families
- ₹50 lakh to the lone survivor, Vishwash Kumar, apart from medical reimbursement
Multiple international law firms have started filing class-action lawsuits against Air India on behalf of foreign nationals’ families.
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