Latest news with #AkashVatsa
Hindustan Times
16 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Air India passenger Akash Vatsa, who flagged ‘unusual things' before crash, now shares what he 'noticed'
Akash Vatsa went viral on social media after claiming he had flown on the same Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight just hours before it crashed in Ahmedabad on Thursday. His post soon drew widespread attention not just for the timing, but because he claimed to have some important observations about the aircraft's condition. In his post, Akash Vatsa also urged authorities to get in touch with him so he could share his observations about the crashed flight. "I was in the same damn flight 2 hours before it took off from AMD. I came in this from DEL-AMD. Noticed unusual things in the place. Made a video to tweet to @airindia. I would want to give more details. Please contact me," his post had said. Akash, who was onboard during its earlier leg from Delhi to Ahmedabad, spoke with news agency ANI and shared his account. While the flight seemed routine at first, Akash said he noticed something unusual. 'At cruising altitude, I noticed that the rear part of the flaps was moving up and down repeatedly,' Vatsa said while speaking to ANI, adding that he was no expert and someone associated with aviation would understand it better. "I did not witness any issues when the flight took off. I felt something was unusual with the plane's flaps outside. Experts will be able to decode this better. The ACs were not working properly when the flight was on the ground before taking off," he said. However, it must be noted that whether Vatsa's observations have any connection to Thursday's crash is not clear, and the exact cause of the mishap will only be ascertained after a thorough probe, which is underway. The London-bound Air India plane crashed into a medical college complex in Ahmedabad and burst into a ball of fire less than a minute after takeoff. The dead in the country's worst air disaster in recent times included several people on the ground. Air India has confirmed that 241 people, who were on board, were killed in the crash. One person has survived the accident and is currently under medical observation. Meanwhile, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a full-scale investigation into the crash, with over 40 staff from the Gujarat State Government joining efforts to support the Ministry of Civil Aviation teams on the ground. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ahmedabad on Friday and took stock of the situation at the crash site. He also met those injured in the incident at the Ahmedabad civic hospital.
Canada Standard
a day ago
- General
- Canada Standard
Passenger who flew on same Air India flight hours before crash says he felt
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 13 (ANI): A passenger who claimed to have flown on the same Air India flight just hours before it crashed near Ahmedabad airport on Thursday, said he had observed 'something unusual' with the aircraft's flaps during the flight. 'It was the same Boeing 787 Dreamliner...I did not witness any major issues when the flight took off, but I personally felt something was unusual with the plane's flaps outside. Experts will be able to comment on this better. Also, the air conditioning system was not working properly while the flight was on the ground,' the passenger, Akash Vatsa, told ANI on Friday. 'At cruising altitude, I noticed the rear part of the flaps was moving up and down repeatedly. However, many aviation experts have pointed out that it's normal for ACs to be turned off during take-off to give the plane a better thrust,' he added. Vatsa claims to have flown on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Delhi to Ahmedabad, just hours before the same aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. He further said that he tried to raise the issue of the air conditioning with the cabin crew, but they were unable to address his complaint due to the flight's impending departure. 'I tried to complain about it, but the crew was in a rush because the flight was almost ready for takeoff. Even after the AC was switched on, its temperature kept fluctuating. Later, several passengers also mentioned it. In fact, when we got on the shuttle bus after landing, many remarked that the bus AC was working better than the flight's,' he said. Air India's flight AI 171 was carrying 242 people when it crashed into a doctor's hostel near the Ahmedabad airport shortly after take-off. Of the passengers, 241 died in the crash. The lone survivor, identified as Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, sustained injuries and is undergoing treatment. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among those who died in the crash. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and met the survivor and other injured people. According to airline authorities, the passengers on board included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national. (ANI)
Filipino Times
a day ago
- Filipino Times
Passenger says he flew on Air India plane before crash, reports problems onboard
A man has claimed that he flew on the same Air India aircraft just two hours before it crashed, killing over 240 people. Akash Vatsa, an entrepreneur, said he took the Delhi to Ahmedabad flight on the Boeing 787-8 before it was used for the London-bound flight that later crashed. Vatsa posted on X (formerly Twitter), 'I was in the same d**n flight 2 hours before it took off from AMD. I came in this from DEL-AMD. Noticed unusual things in the place. Made a video to tweet to @airindia. I would want to give more details.' He also shared videos from inside the aircraft, showing issues like a broken air-conditioning system and non-working entertainment screens. 'AC is not working at all. And as usual, the TV screens are not working. Not even the light is working,' he said in one clip. I was in the same damn flight 2 hours before it took off from AMD. I came in this from DEL-AMD. Noticed unusual things in the a video to tweet to @airindia i would want to give more details. Please contact me. @flyingbeast320 @aajtak @ndtv @Boeing_In #planecrash #AI171 — Akash Vatsa (@akku92) June 12, 2025 Some netizens think it was fake. Vatsa then posted a photo of his boarding pass to prove it was true. 'People who wanted to check the credibility, here's my boarding pass. Man, why would I firstly record [a] video of the same plane and then post it?' Vasta captioned his post. 🙏❤️🧿JAI SHREE RADHEY KRISHNA JI🧿❤️🙏 People who wanted to check the credibility. Here's my boarding pass. Man, why would I firstly record video of the same plane and then post it? There's are negative people are around. — Akash Vatsa (@akku92) June 12, 2025 Vasta's post has since gone viral, reaching 112,000 likes, 28,000 retweets, and 4,900 comments. In a follow-up, Vatsa said he chose not to take another Air India flight that night. Air India has not yet responded to the claims.
Wales Online
a day ago
- General
- Wales Online
Passenger on doomed Air India flight's earlier journey said nothing was working
Passenger on doomed Air India flight's earlier journey said nothing was working Akash Vatsa said he had been on the same plane that crashed in Ahmedabad, India, on Friday, and had noticed a number of problems with the aircraft Parts of the Air India plane that crashed yesterday, strewn across the crash site (Image: AP ) A passenger, who had earlier flown on the same plane that crashed in western India, has come forward to report several issues with the aircraft. Akash Vatsa took to social media to recount his experience on the Air India flight from Delhi to Ahmedabad, just two hours before the same aircraft was scheduled to depart for London Gatwick from Ahmedabad. During his flight, he said he "noticed unusual things in the plane" which was Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. He captured his observations in a video, which he shared with Air India, requesting that they get in touch with him for further information. Boeing India, alongside various media outlets, were also tagged in the post. Content cannot be displayed without consent According to Vatsa's account, the air conditioning system was not working, forcing numerous passengers to improvise by using in-flight magazines as makeshift fans, reports the Mirror. The passenger then turned the camera on himself, visibly sweating, before highlighting another issue: "As usual, your TV screens are also not working." Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here Article continues below He continued his critique, pointing out that "nothing is working, not even the light is working" and posed a question to Air India: "Is this what you are providing?". Flight Radar data revealed that the flight touched down in Ahmedabad at 11:16am local time. The same Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner subsequently took off from Ahmedabad at 1:38 pm local time (9:08 am BST), bound for London Gatwick Airport. Tragically, mere minutes after lifting off, the plane met with disaster, plummeting into a residential area. The aircraft was carrying 242 individuals which included 53 British citizens, 169 from India, along with seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian. After initial reports indicated a total loss of life, when to the city's head of police spoke to the news agency AP, there was a glimmer of hope when Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik disclosed to ANI that one person miraculously survived. The distressing incident was captured on video, revealing the moment the plane struck a facility used by medical students for dining before being engulfed in flame and thick black smoke. Responding to the calamity, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his profound shock and sorrow: "The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. "It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected." Similarly, Britain's Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, released a heartfelt statement, declaring: "The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating." He continued: "I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time." Mathrubhumi News, an Indian media outlet, reported that Air India's flight AI-171 was grounded in December 2024 due to a "major technical snag". The incident led to scrutiny over "maintenance lapses and flight safety procedures" as per the outlet, yet the aircraft was subsequently given the all-clear to resume flying, according to the Express. In the aftermath of the crash, Air India announced that those injured were being transported to hospital and established a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 for further information. An additional contact number +91 8062779200 was also made available for international callers. The carrier stated it was providing "its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident". Several hours following the accident, Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India, issued a video statement on social media platforms. He conveyed the airline's "deep sorrow" regarding the tragic event and emphasised that their focus would be "entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, their families, and loved ones". Wilson acknowledged the presence of "many questions" surrounding the incident but stated he would "not be able to answer all of them". He added: "We are actively working with the authorities on all emergency response efforts." In a communication to the Mirror, Air India stated: "We would like to inform you that Air India is closely coordinating with all relevant authorities, and any verified updates or official statements will be shared through our official communication channels." Article continues below It further stated: "We remain committed to transparency and will continue to share updates as appropriate."
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
Man Who Flew Same Air India Plane Before Crash, Flags Issues In Viral Post Seen By 4 Million People
In a chilling revelation, Delhi-based flyer Akash Vatsa claims he flew on the same Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner—just two hours before it crashed near Ahmedabad while operating as AI171 to London. Speaking to ANI, Vatsa said he experienced multiple issues onboard, including malfunctioning air-conditioning and flickering in-flight entertainment. He also shared that he observed 'unusual flap movements' mid-air. His viral tweet, seen by over 4 million people, includes footage from inside the aircraft, showing visibly uncomfortable passengers. While aviation experts note that flap activity and AC behavior can be within operational norms, Vatsa's account raises fresh concerns about aircraft fitness prior to one of India's worst aviation disasters. Air India has not yet responded publicly to Vatsa's claim. The plane crashed minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 265 people. The aircraft had flown in from Delhi just hours earlier.#airindiacrash #akashvatsa #boeing787 #flightai171 #ahmedabadcrash #airindia #aviationsafety #viralvideo #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #indianews
