Air India Flight AI‑171, a Boeing 787‑8 bound for London Gatwick, crashed minutes after departing Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 270 including 241 onboard and approximately 29 on the ground. The cockpit transmitted chilling final words, “Thrust not achieved, falling, Mayday” indicating a critical loss of engine power or lift. It was the first fatal 787 crash since its 2011 debut. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau recovered the black box 28 hours later; the DGCA has ordered enhanced safety inspections of all Air India 787‑8/9 aircraft, focusing on fuel, engine, and hydraulics. Only one passenger, British‑Indian Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, survived and is recovering. The probe, supported by US and UK agencies, continues. (PC: The Nightly & NDTV)

On June 12, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (Flight AI 171) crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, tragically killing at least 270 people, including students in a nearby hostel, the deadliest air disaster in a decade. CCTV footage shows the flight briefly climbing with its landing gear extended and no visible engine fire before descending and exploding into a fireball 33 seconds after departure. Investigators are probing engine thrust anomalies, flap malfunctions, and prolonged gear deployment; maintenance lapses are possible, while bird strike seems unlikely. The flight data recorder has been recovered; the cockpit voice recorder remains missing. India’s regulator has mandated additional checks on all Boeing 787‑8/9s, focusing on GEnx engines and takeoff parameters. (PC: CNN, CNBC, Reuters & The Economic Times)

Monali and Sunny Patel of Anand—known as Gujarat’s “NRI City”—had booked a June 6 return to London but postponed due to a medical issue with Monali. They rebooked and boarded the ill-fated Flight AI 171 on June 12, which crashed seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing nearly all aboard . Both perished, along with 33 other passengers from Anand. Their final moments included heartfelt goodbyes and shared messages: Monali told relatives “everything was cleared… see you soon” shortly before boarding . The tragedy has left families reeling, grappling with shattered expectations and unanswered grief. (PC: NDTV)

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, in his first post-crash briefing on June 14, confirmed the recovery and ongoing decoding of the flight data and cockpit voice recorders from Air India Flight AI 171—crashed near Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 241 onboard and over 30 ground victims . He announced the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and DGCA are collaborating with international agencies (NTSB, Boeing, GE) in a three-month probe, while urgent safety checks on all 34 Boeing 787s in India have begun . DNA testing for victim identification is underway, and the high-level committee aims to issue findings and prevention guidelines swiftly. (PC: PTI)

Security forces—Manipur Police, Central Armed Police Forces, Army, and Assam Rifles—carried out coordinated raids across five districts in Manipur Valley, targeting suspected militant hideouts, seizing explosives and war-like materials, and detaining individuals in connection to ethnic violence . The operations follow reimposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in several police-station areas, reflecting a heightened security posture amid ongoing tensions between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. Authorities stress these raids aim to restore law and order, dismantle insurgent networks, and reduce civilian harm, as ethnic clashes persist across the state. (PC: The Hindu)

Rajnikant and Divyaben Patel, along with maternal aunt Hemangi Ben, preponed their travel from Vasad to London to surprise their 21-year-old daughter, Dhavni, attending convocation. On June 12, their Air India Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad into a hostel near Meghani Nagar, killing all 242 on board and at least eight on the ground; only one passenger survived . The family’s tragic loss arrived as Dhavni awaited their joyful arrival. Air India and authorities continue DNA testing. A high-level investigation panel has been formed to review causes and safety protocols, with efforts focused on supporting grieving families and enhancing aviation safety. (PC: Reuters)

Tata Group (Air India’s owner) announced ₹1 crore compensation per deceased victim of the June 12 Ahmedabad crash—including 33 people killed on the ground—and will fully cover medical expenses for the injured. The group will also support rebuilding the damaged BJ Medical College hostel . This aligns with aviation industry norms under the Montreal Convention, which mandates up to ₹1.5 crore per next‑of‑kin from insurance, with potential liability rising higher . Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association, Gujarat, has urged Tata to further aid affected students.

British-Indian passenger Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, seated in 11A, an emergency exit window seat on Air India Flight 171 from Ahmedabad to London—miraculously survived the June 12 crash that killed 241 people on board and dozens on the ground . Experts say his survival was due less to the seat number and more to a rare set of factors: proximity to the reinforced wing section, a broken exit door, and unique crash dynamics that left his section intact . While studies suggest rear or wing-adjacent seats typically offer better odds, seating alone cannot guarantee safety. Preparedness—knowing exits and following crew instructions—is vital. (PC: NDTV)

Preliminary insights into the June 12 Air India AI‑171 crash from Ahmedabad highlight possible human error in critical early-stage procedures. A young IndiGo pilot noted the rarity of issues just after liftoff, suggesting possible dual-engine failure or bird strike, pending black‑box analysis. A former crew member stressed pre-flight and cockpit checks are complex, involving countless safeguards—and that routine pressures can lead to overlooked steps. Investigators are examining flap and gear configurations alongside thrust issues, while authorities analyse chain‑reaction scenarios rather than single errors. The final report might take up to a year. (PC: The Print)

In a grim update following the Air India Express plane crash near Ahmedabad, the body of an air hostess was found in the tail section of the wreckage. The Boeing 787, operating as Flight IX-171, crashed minutes after takeoff, killing over 240 people, including passengers and residents of a nearby hostel. Rescue teams recovered the black box—both the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder—which will be sent for analysis to determine the cause. Preliminary investigations suggest a technical failure may be behind the crash. Officials are now focusing on decoding the black box and continuing forensic identification of victims.