It’s been a month since Air India flight AI171 crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people—including 19 on the ground. A routine flight to London turned into a devastating tragedy that has left families shattered and the nation demanding answer
On 12 June, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner hit a densely populated neighbourhood just seconds after take-off. The plane slammed into the canteen of BJ Medical College, where dozens of students were having lunch. In the chaos, 241 of 242 passengers and 19 civilians on the ground died. Only one man survived.
A preliminary investigation suggests that fuel switches—critical to engine operation—were turned off after take-off and later turned back on, but the engines never recovered. Cockpit audio captured one pilot asking, “Why did you do the cut-off?” The other responded, “I didn’t.”
Experts say these switches are hard to accidentally flip. Investigators are now exploring if this was a technical failure or human error
Rafiq Memon, uncle of Javed Ali who died with his wife and two kids, says: “He was the pillar of our house. We are broken.”
Nareshsinh Thakore lost his toddler and mother-in-law—killed not onboard, but on the ground. “We lost family who never stepped on the plane.”
Ayushi Christian, who lost her husband, demands action: “One month has passed. Where is the accountability?”
Dr Mario Donadi, mourning his colleague Dr Prateek Joshi, says: “A simple switch, and so many lives lost. It’s unbearable.”
Vishwashkumar Ramesh, the sole survivor, recalls: “The lights flickered… then we hit something. I still don’t know how I made it out.” He walked out of the rubble. His brother didn’t survive.
Authorities say a full report may take up to a year. Families continue to wait for answers. Meanwhile, India’s air regulator insists the skies are still safe, and flight traffic has barely dipped since the crash.
As investigations continue, one thing is clear: for the families left behind, life will never be the same.
