Onlookers film bodies strewn amongst tragic Air India Flight 171 crash site
WARNING: Extremely graphic details
Shocking footage has been released from the crash site of Air India Flight 171, with what appears to be a dozen onlookers crowding around a victim's decapitated head while filming it with their smartphones.
The footage was shared to X alongside another video showing the frantic rescue effort.
That clip was too gruesome to blur for publication.
Charred bodies were seen being placed onto stretchers amid the rubble, strewn with airplane instruments, seatbelt buckles and human limbs.
Commenters heavily condemned the people crowded around the scene filming eagerly.
News.com.au chose to publish a blurred copy of the video, understanding the dilemma involved with simultaneously documenting and condemning the act.
Heartbreaking scenes
In an echoing hall in India's Ahmedabad, mourning families gave DNA samples on Friday to identify relatives missing after a London-bound passenger jet crashed in a residential area.
At least 265 people on board and on the ground were killed when the Air India 787-8 Dreamliner smashed into a residential area soon after takeoff on Thursday. Just one passenger miraculously survived the giant fireball.
Ashfaque Nanabawa, 40, said he had come to find his cousin Akeel Nanabawa, who had been onboard with his wife and three-year-old daughter.
He said they had spoken as his cousin sat in the plane just before takeoff. 'He called us and he said: 'I am in the plane and I have boarded safely and everything was okay'. That was his last call.' Nanabawa, speaking in the early hours of Friday morning, said he and his family had given DNA samples, but were yet to 'identify any of the bodies'.
Indian police said at least 265 bodies had been recovered from the smouldering crash site -- both from the wreckage of the plane and the medical staff accommodation into which the burning jet crashed.
The toll may rise further as more bodies are located.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called the crash 'heartbreaking beyond words'. India's Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the crash site and those injured in hospital on Thursday evening, said forensic laboratories would 'complete the DNA testing in the shortest possible time'.
Shah said the final official toll would 'be declared only after DNA testing is completed'.
On a raised platform, a dozen exhausted doctors worked to collect samples for the grim task of trying to identify bodies.
'We have taken samples of babies and those above 80 years old. I don't have words to explain this,' said a doctor, on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.
Air India said there were 169 Indian passengers, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and a Canadian on board the flight bound for London's Gatwick airport, as well as 12 crew members, making 242 onboard.
Only one is confirmed to have survived, a British national.
At least 24 people also died on the ground when the jet hit residential buildings.
'As doctors, you're always prepared for the worst right?' the medic added. 'But this is just overwhelming. Families are crying, looking for answers.' Above, the sounds of planes echoed, with the hall close to another airport. 'One person came to give the sample... his child, wife and mother were on the flight', the doctor added. 'What do I even say?' One woman, too grief-stricken to give her name, said her son-in-law had been killed.
'My daughter doesn't know that he's no more', she said, wiping away tears. 'I can't break the news to her, can someone else do that please?'
'Unimaginable'
Friends also arrived in a desperate search for news.
Premal Mehta, 39, from Ahmedabad, said he did not want to believe his friend Mahesh Jeerawala had been killed.
'I am using everything in my power, political contacts, whatever it is, to find him', he said in desperation, as he supported his friend's brother, who was providing a DNA sample.
Others had flown in seeking news, or to identify the dead.
Ismail Sheikh said he had celebrated only days before with his friend, a London resident who had returned to see family in India.
His friend was onboard with his wife and two children.
Sheikh recalled taking his friend to the airport 15 years ago, when he moved to London with high hopes for the future.
'Now I am here,' Sheikh said, his eyes wet with tears. 'This is unimaginable'.
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The Advertiser
11 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Air India black box recovered as toll climbs to 270
The flight data recorder from the crashed Air India flight has been recovered as the death toll climbed to at least 270 people with recovery teams continuing to scour the site of one of India's worst aviation disasters. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel when the plane came down shortly after take-off on Thursday in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad. Dr Dhaval Gameti at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad confirmed the facility had received 270 bodies, adding the lone surviving passenger was still under observation for some of his wounds. "He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon," Gameti said on Saturday. The plane's digital flight data recorder, or black box, was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site and India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said it had begun its work with "full force". The black box recovery marked an important step forward in the investigation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post. The device would reveal information about the engine and control settings, as well as what the voice recorder would show about the cockpit conversations, Paul Fromme, a mechanical engineer with the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in a statement. "This should show quickly if there was a loss of engine power or lift after take-off and allow a preliminary determination of the likely cause for the crash," said Fromme, who heads the professional association's Aerospace Division. Separately, the country's civil aviation regulator ordered Air India to conduct additional inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric's GEnx engines. At least five people were were killed on the ground and about 50 injured, but many more victims victims were expected to be found in the search of the crash site. DNA testing was being conducted to identify bodies that were mostly charred beyond recognition. The plane hit a building hosting a medical college hostel and burst into flames, killing several students, in the city that is the capital of Gujarat, Narendra Modi's home state. "We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words," the Indian prime minister said on social media after visiting the site. The survivor met Modi at the government hospital where he was being treated for burns and other injuries. Viswashkumar Ramesh told India's national broadcaster that he still could not believe he was alive. He said the aircraft seemed to become stuck immediately after take-off. He said the lights then came on, and right after that it accelerated but seemed unable to gain height before it crashed. He said the side of the plane where he was seated fell onto the ground floor of a building and there was space for him to escape after the door broke open. He unfastened his seat belt and forced himself out of the plane. "When I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive," he said. US participants in the investigation will include people from the NTSB, FAA, Boeing and General Electric. Thursday's Air India crash involved a 12-year-old Boeing 787. Boeing planes have been plagued by safety issues on other types of aircraft. According to experts, there are about 1200 of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide and this was the first deadly crash in 16 years of operation. with Reuters The flight data recorder from the crashed Air India flight has been recovered as the death toll climbed to at least 270 people with recovery teams continuing to scour the site of one of India's worst aviation disasters. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel when the plane came down shortly after take-off on Thursday in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad. Dr Dhaval Gameti at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad confirmed the facility had received 270 bodies, adding the lone surviving passenger was still under observation for some of his wounds. "He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon," Gameti said on Saturday. The plane's digital flight data recorder, or black box, was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site and India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said it had begun its work with "full force". The black box recovery marked an important step forward in the investigation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post. The device would reveal information about the engine and control settings, as well as what the voice recorder would show about the cockpit conversations, Paul Fromme, a mechanical engineer with the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in a statement. "This should show quickly if there was a loss of engine power or lift after take-off and allow a preliminary determination of the likely cause for the crash," said Fromme, who heads the professional association's Aerospace Division. Separately, the country's civil aviation regulator ordered Air India to conduct additional inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric's GEnx engines. At least five people were were killed on the ground and about 50 injured, but many more victims victims were expected to be found in the search of the crash site. DNA testing was being conducted to identify bodies that were mostly charred beyond recognition. The plane hit a building hosting a medical college hostel and burst into flames, killing several students, in the city that is the capital of Gujarat, Narendra Modi's home state. "We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words," the Indian prime minister said on social media after visiting the site. The survivor met Modi at the government hospital where he was being treated for burns and other injuries. Viswashkumar Ramesh told India's national broadcaster that he still could not believe he was alive. He said the aircraft seemed to become stuck immediately after take-off. He said the lights then came on, and right after that it accelerated but seemed unable to gain height before it crashed. He said the side of the plane where he was seated fell onto the ground floor of a building and there was space for him to escape after the door broke open. He unfastened his seat belt and forced himself out of the plane. "When I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive," he said. US participants in the investigation will include people from the NTSB, FAA, Boeing and General Electric. Thursday's Air India crash involved a 12-year-old Boeing 787. Boeing planes have been plagued by safety issues on other types of aircraft. According to experts, there are about 1200 of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide and this was the first deadly crash in 16 years of operation. with Reuters The flight data recorder from the crashed Air India flight has been recovered as the death toll climbed to at least 270 people with recovery teams continuing to scour the site of one of India's worst aviation disasters. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel when the plane came down shortly after take-off on Thursday in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad. Dr Dhaval Gameti at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad confirmed the facility had received 270 bodies, adding the lone surviving passenger was still under observation for some of his wounds. "He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon," Gameti said on Saturday. The plane's digital flight data recorder, or black box, was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site and India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said it had begun its work with "full force". The black box recovery marked an important step forward in the investigation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post. The device would reveal information about the engine and control settings, as well as what the voice recorder would show about the cockpit conversations, Paul Fromme, a mechanical engineer with the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in a statement. "This should show quickly if there was a loss of engine power or lift after take-off and allow a preliminary determination of the likely cause for the crash," said Fromme, who heads the professional association's Aerospace Division. Separately, the country's civil aviation regulator ordered Air India to conduct additional inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric's GEnx engines. At least five people were were killed on the ground and about 50 injured, but many more victims victims were expected to be found in the search of the crash site. DNA testing was being conducted to identify bodies that were mostly charred beyond recognition. The plane hit a building hosting a medical college hostel and burst into flames, killing several students, in the city that is the capital of Gujarat, Narendra Modi's home state. "We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words," the Indian prime minister said on social media after visiting the site. The survivor met Modi at the government hospital where he was being treated for burns and other injuries. Viswashkumar Ramesh told India's national broadcaster that he still could not believe he was alive. He said the aircraft seemed to become stuck immediately after take-off. He said the lights then came on, and right after that it accelerated but seemed unable to gain height before it crashed. He said the side of the plane where he was seated fell onto the ground floor of a building and there was space for him to escape after the door broke open. He unfastened his seat belt and forced himself out of the plane. "When I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive," he said. US participants in the investigation will include people from the NTSB, FAA, Boeing and General Electric. Thursday's Air India crash involved a 12-year-old Boeing 787. Boeing planes have been plagued by safety issues on other types of aircraft. According to experts, there are about 1200 of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide and this was the first deadly crash in 16 years of operation. with Reuters The flight data recorder from the crashed Air India flight has been recovered as the death toll climbed to at least 270 people with recovery teams continuing to scour the site of one of India's worst aviation disasters. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel when the plane came down shortly after take-off on Thursday in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad. Dr Dhaval Gameti at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad confirmed the facility had received 270 bodies, adding the lone surviving passenger was still under observation for some of his wounds. "He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon," Gameti said on Saturday. The plane's digital flight data recorder, or black box, was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site and India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said it had begun its work with "full force". The black box recovery marked an important step forward in the investigation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post. The device would reveal information about the engine and control settings, as well as what the voice recorder would show about the cockpit conversations, Paul Fromme, a mechanical engineer with the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in a statement. "This should show quickly if there was a loss of engine power or lift after take-off and allow a preliminary determination of the likely cause for the crash," said Fromme, who heads the professional association's Aerospace Division. Separately, the country's civil aviation regulator ordered Air India to conduct additional inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric's GEnx engines. At least five people were were killed on the ground and about 50 injured, but many more victims victims were expected to be found in the search of the crash site. DNA testing was being conducted to identify bodies that were mostly charred beyond recognition. The plane hit a building hosting a medical college hostel and burst into flames, killing several students, in the city that is the capital of Gujarat, Narendra Modi's home state. "We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words," the Indian prime minister said on social media after visiting the site. The survivor met Modi at the government hospital where he was being treated for burns and other injuries. Viswashkumar Ramesh told India's national broadcaster that he still could not believe he was alive. He said the aircraft seemed to become stuck immediately after take-off. He said the lights then came on, and right after that it accelerated but seemed unable to gain height before it crashed. He said the side of the plane where he was seated fell onto the ground floor of a building and there was space for him to escape after the door broke open. He unfastened his seat belt and forced himself out of the plane. "When I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive," he said. US participants in the investigation will include people from the NTSB, FAA, Boeing and General Electric. Thursday's Air India crash involved a 12-year-old Boeing 787. Boeing planes have been plagued by safety issues on other types of aircraft. According to experts, there are about 1200 of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide and this was the first deadly crash in 16 years of operation. with Reuters
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Nothing worked': Haunting video hours before Air India crash
Shocking footage showed the Boeing 787 Dreamliner's interior with defective TV screens and 'no air conditioning at all' when it flew from Delhi to Ahmedadbad – two hours prior to the horror smash. Air India Flight AI171 was en route to London Gatwick when it crashed into a hostel used by doctors on Thursday. It had 242 people on board, including 53 Brits and 11 children. So far, 204 bodies have been recovered, and one Brit is believed to have survived. On X, Akash Vasta claimed that he had flown on the very same aircraft just two hours before it crashed. He posted horrifying footage which showed many parts of the plane not functioning properly during its second last ever flight. He said on X: 'I was in the same damn flight 2 hours before it took off from AMD. I came in this from DEL-AMD.' The shocked passenger added that he had 'noticed unusual things' in the plane which he suggested may have been telltale signs that it was defective. In the concerning footage, he can be heard saying: 'The AC is not working at all. And as usual, your TV screens are also not working, neither this button for calling the cabin crew.' He said: 'Nothing is working. Nothing! Not even the light is working.' The worried passenger asked: 'Is this what you are providing?' He also complained that he was 'sweating like hell' due to the lack of AC, and stated that this was why 'Air India is considered one of the worst airlines in the world'. It comes as one 40-year-old Brit, Ajay Kumar Vishwash, claimed that he cheated death after jumping off the flaming Air India jet before it crashed. Unbelievable footage showed Vishwash walking away from what is understood to be the crash site of the doomed Air India flight to London Gatwick. Vishwash, who still had his boarding pass, told Hindustan Times: '30 seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.' Full harrowing CCTV footage has also now shown the Boeing 787 taking off before appearing to lose power in Ahmedabad in the west of India. The plane was flying to London Gatwick Airport and was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew. Video showed the plane taxing down the runway before taking off at around 1.38pm local time from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. It also showed the plane take to the sky – before it appears to stop climbing and then plummet back down to earth. The flight then crashed in a fireball into a doctor's hostel. Police are now hunting through the rubble and wreckage for any survivors. According to flight tracking website Flightradar, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner's final signal was received just seconds after takeoff. This was last logged at 1:38pm local time – less than a minute after it started the journey. It had only reached 625ft at the time, officials believe. In a statement the airline said: 'Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick was involved in an accident on 12 June 2025.' 'At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest opportunity.' Out of the 242 on board, 169 were Indian travellers, one Canadian and seven Portuguese nationals alongside the Brits.
News.com.au
18 hours ago
- News.com.au
Tiny detail from survivor may help solve Air India mystery
The death-cheating Brit sole survivor of the Air India disaster has revealed a clue that something was wrong just moments before the crash. Vishwash Ramesh, 40, said the cabin lights began flickering before the jet sank through the air – a detail which could help solve the mystery of the catastrophe, The Sun reports. Recalling the moments before tragedy, Vishwash, from Leicester, said: 'When the flight took off, within five to 10 seconds it felt like it was stuck in the air. 'Suddenly, the lights started flickering – green and white. 'The aircraft wasn't gaining altitude and was just gliding before it suddenly slammed into a building and exploded.' Vishwash's flickering lights revelation comes after a passenger, who took the plane the day before the crash, claimed electrical parts such as the back-of-seat screens weren't working. Aviation experts have speculated that the reports of dodgy electrics could be a sign of a power failure, possibly explaining the crash. Air India is keeping an open mind as to what went wrong and caused the deaths of 52 Brits. Theories being considered include issues with the engine thrust, flaps and landing gear – as well as a bird strike and a pilot error. And the Indian government's investigation is also considering whether Air India was at fault in any way. India's aviation regulator had recently ordered the airline to safety check its entire Boeing 787 fleet. Vishwash is the only person who can provide an insider's witness account of the moment – and previously said he has 'no idea' how he survived. He said: 'I saw people dying in front of my eyes – the air hostesses, and two people I saw near me [ …] I walked out of the rubble.' The lucky escapee speculated: 'I think the side I was on was not facing the hostel. I don't know about others.' Other analysts have suggested he managed to escape thanks to a flying piece of fuselage – which was caught soaring through the air on video. Vishwash's seat was 11A, right next to the emergency door, which is understood to have blown off when the plane struck the building and then exploded. In the unbelievable footage, a tiny object is seen flying away for a split second – right before the jet is engulfed in flames. Investigators continue to analyse the footage and search for the mystery piece of debris as they try to find out what caused the horror crash. Recalling the moment of disbelief when he found himself alive, Vishwash said: 'At first, I thought I was dead. Later, I realised I was still alive and saw an opening in the fuselage. 'I managed to unbuckle myself, used my leg to push through that opening and crawled out.' 'When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me. 'Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital.' Vishwash that the plane caught fire before he fought through the rubble – and then exploded when he was just out of harm's way. Footage shows Vishwash, staggering and caked in blood with locals helping him an ambulance. Speaking in Hindi, he says: 'I just got out of the plane, it exploded.' From there he was rushed to hospital, and has since heaped praise on the medical staff treating him. He said: 'My treatment is going well, and the people are very supportive.' Vishwash's brother Ajay was on-board the plane and died.
