Key Points:
- Air India Flight AI171 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on 12 June 2025.
- The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was en route to London Gatwick with 242 onboard.
- 241 people, including 230 passengers and 11 crew, were killed in the crash.
- The crash site included a medical hostel building; eight people on the ground also died.
- British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, was the sole survivor.
- 53 British nationals were aboard, including victims from East Ham.
- Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz, confirmed local residents were on the flight.
- A family from Gloucester, including a 4-year-old child, were also confirmed dead.
- This was the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 aircraft.
- The crash prompted condolences from global leaders and emergency response from both India and the UK.
- News originally reported by Olivia Carter, Apprentice Reporter, Guardian-Series.
East Ham residents are among those killed in the Air India Flight AI171 crash, which claimed 241 lives shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on 12 June. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was headed to London Gatwick when it struck a medical student hostel in Meghani Nagar, killing nearly all onboard and eight on the ground.
What happened to Air India Flight AI171?
As reported by Olivia Carter of Guardian-Series, the aircraft crashed just 30 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad at 1:39pm local time (8:09am GMT). Air India Flight AI171, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was carrying 230 passengers and 12 flight staff. The plane was headed for London Gatwick but never gained proper altitude. Witnesses and a survivor described a loud noise before the aircraft went down.
According to Al Jazeera and Reuters, the aircraft slammed into a hostel connected to a hospital in the densely populated Meghani Nagar area. Videos captured a huge fireball erupting from the scene, and the crash has become the deadliest air disaster involving a Boeing 787.
Who were the victims?
Out of the 242 people onboard, only one survived. Reuters identified the sole survivor as 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian descent. He was seated at 11A, near an emergency exit.
The deceased included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian, according to Spectrum News. The British fatalities include several residents from East Ham, London.
How was East Ham impacted?
Guardian-Series reporter Olivia Carter noted that the East Ham community is mourning the loss of local residents who were on board the doomed flight.
Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, whose borough includes East Ham, issued a heartfelt statement on June 13:
“When we first heard the tragic news of the Air India crash yesterday, our thoughts immediately went out to the families and friends of all those affected, including in Ahmedabad.”
“We knew many in our own community would be concerned at the news, and now we know the desperately sad news that this global tragedy has directly affected our own close-knit community of Newham.
“I know I speak for all in the borough when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims of Flight AI171.”
Mayor Fiaz also confirmed that Newham Council was in contact with the UK Foreign Office and would assist residents impacted by the disaster. Although exact numbers were not provided, BBC News understands that two people from Newham may have died, though this has not been officially confirmed by the council.
Which British families have been named among the deceased?
Among the confirmed British victims were members of a Gloucester family:
- Akeel Nanabawa
- Hannaa Vorajee
- Sara Nanabawa, aged four
This was verified by LBC and BBC News. Their tragic loss has echoed across communities in both India and the UK.
How did officials respond to the crash?
Both Indian and British authorities acted swiftly. Euronews and CNN report that emergency services arrived at the scene within minutes. The UK Foreign Office dispatched crisis support teams and urged families of those potentially onboard to submit DNA samples for identification.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed deep condolences. The Indian Civil Aviation Ministry is expected to launch a full investigation into the technical causes of the crash.
What makes this crash historically significant?
This incident marks the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, as confirmed by the Aviation Safety Network. Prior to this, the aircraft type was considered among the safest long-haul jets in service globally.
The tragedy is also significant due to the number of international nationals affected and the unique impact it had on communities like East Ham, which maintains strong ties with South Asia.
What happens next?
As of June 13, authorities are continuing recovery and identification efforts. Forensic experts are working with dismembered remains due to the intensity of the crash. Families across the UK, India, and Portugal await final confirmation of their loved ones’ fates.
Mayor Fiaz concluded her message by urging collective mourning:
“For now, we must grieve as a community, and we offer what support we can for the loved ones of those who have died or been injured.”
