Latest news with #VallabhbhaiPatelInternationalAirport
Hans India
2 hours ago
- General
- Hans India
The Seat 11A Mystery: How the lone survivor cheated death!
New Delhi: Only one person walked out of the shattered Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. British-Indian national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, seated in 11A, emerged as the sole survivor of Air India flight AI-171, which crashed just moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The crash, India's deadliest single-aircraft disaster in decades, occurred at 1:38 pm on Thursday. The aircraft, bound for London Gatwick, went down seconds after departure, striking a multi-storey hostel housing resident doctors of BJ Medical College in the Meghaninagar area. Among the dead were 229 passengers and 12 crew members. Officials said five medical students on the ground also died. But Ramesh, a 40-year-old businessman based in the UK, walked out of the wreckage dazed, bloodied and burned. His brother, seated in 11J across the aisle, was not as fortunate. "Everything happened in front of my eyes. I thought I would die," Ramesh said hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited him at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. Seat 11A is positioned in the first row of economy class, directly behind the business cabin and close to the emergency exits on the left side. When the aircraft hit the ground, the front-left section, including 11A, collapsed into the ground floor of the hostel building, not the upper levels where the aircraft's main body suffered its worst destruction. "The side where I was seated fell into the ground floor of the building," Ramesh recounted. "There was some space. When the door broke, I saw that space and I just jumped out." Ramesh was lucky. The section opposite him, where the plane had rammed into a wall, was sealed off by debris and fire. None of the occupants from those rows survived. "The door must've broken on impact," he said. "There was a wall on the opposite side, but near me, it was open. I ran. I don't know how." Photos from the site confirm his account. The midsection and tail of the plane were reduced to charred rubble. But the forward fuselage had partially broken off before catching fire, allowing a narrow exit path. "I don't know how I came out of it alive," Ramesh said. "For a while, I thought I was about to die. But when I opened my eyes, I saw I was alive. And I opened my seat belt and got out of there. The airhostess and aunty uncle all died before my eyes." Ramesh is now in bed 11 of Ward B7 at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, under 24-hour monitoring. His ward is guarded by the Gujarat ATS and the city crime branch. PM Modi arrived in Ahmedabad on Friday and visited the crash site and later the hospital, where he met Ramesh. "He asked me what happened," Ramesh said. "I told him I don't know how I lived. It all happened so fast." The fact that only one person survived has drawn comparisons to past aviation disasters where a single passenger lived. In 1987, four-year-old Cecelia Cichan survived the Northwest Flight 255 crash in Detroit. In 2009, Bahia Bakari, 12, was the only survivor of Yemenia Flight 626 crash near the Comoros Islands. More recently, co-pilot Jim Polehinke survived the 2006 Comair crash in Kentucky.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Full ops continue at airport; high-level meetings held
Ahmedabad: Operations at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport remained fully functional even as investigations into the Air India Flight 171 crash began. Airport authorities issued a passenger advisory confirming that all flight services are operational and that dedicated helplines have been set up to assist those affected. "Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport remains fully operational for passengers. In light of yesterday's incident involving Air India Flight AI171, dedicated helpline numbers have been created for passenger queries and assistance," the advisory stated. Sources said a series of high-level meetings were convened between senior state and central govt officials, aviation authorities, and security agencies, focusing on ongoing rescue and relief measures, safety audits, and ensuring minimal disruption to airport operations. Officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), Gujarat govt, and Air India attended these meetings. The emphasis of the meetings remained coordinated support for crash victims, reviewing emergency response protocols, and securing the crash perimeter. "The airport operator is committed to extending maximum support to all the family members and relatives of the deceased," said an official on condition of anonymity. Flight operations at the city airport remained as usual with no major disruptions. A help desk was set up outside Terminal 2 of the airport on Friday for family members of passengers to get the deceased's boarding pass or ticket copy and other details verified and seek assistance to reach the hospital for further process. Paramedics, along with basic medical equipment such as stretchers and wheelchairs, have been kept at the help desk apart from refreshments. The airport operator also started a helpline. "In light of the incident involving Air India Flight AI171, a dedicated helpline number has been created at Ahmedabad airport for passenger queries and assistance. Please call +91 99741 11327," the city airport said in a statement. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
10 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Daughter awaits at graduation, but family never arrives
Vadodara: What was meant to be a moment of pride and celebration turned into a nightmare no family could anticipate. A joint family from Vasad in Anand district, planned to reunite in London for a milestone — the graduation ceremony of their daughter, Dhvani Patel. Instead, grief now hangs heavy over their home, with three family members lost in Thursday's crash. Rajnikant Patel (58), his wife Divya Patel (54) and his sister-in-law Hemangini Patel (58) had boarded Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, looking forward to celebrating Dhvani's MBA convocation at Middlesex University on June 23. Moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, the aircraft crashed. It claimed the lives of 33 people from Anand district alone. "My sister, Dhvani, is in East London, studying business and management. We were all excited to be there with her as she received her MBA degree. It was supposed to be a family moment," said Parth Patel, Hemangini's son, struggling to hold back tears. "Instead, I'm now planning funerals." The Patel family, who own the Krishna Riverside Resort in Vasad, were known for their warmth, hospitality, and being a tightly knit household. Living together on High School Road, their home was always bustling with relatives, guests and laughter. Now it stands eerily quiet. For Parth, the tragedy is a cruel blow upon another. "Just last year, I lost my father, Arun Patel, to a heart attack. Now I've lost my mother, uncle and aunt. In one year, I've been left almost alone," he said. Now, only he, his wife, his daughter and cousin sister remain from what was once a vibrant family unit. The pain has been compounded by the wait to identify the deceased. "We're waiting for my 'foi' (paternal aunt) to arrive from the US — only her DNA sample can confirm my uncle's identity. She's on her way," said Parth. The loss is not limited to the family. The Patels were well-respected in Vasad — a town known for its toor dal and defined by its sense of community. "Rajnikant wasn't just a neighbour, he was a dear friend. His death is a deeply personal loss," said Anand MP Mitesh Patel, who, along with Kheda MP Devusinh Chauhan, visited the grieving family on Friday. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Canada Standard
14 hours ago
- General
- Canada Standard
"No word yet on loved ones": Families await clarity after Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad
Surat (Gujarat) [India], June 12 (ANI): Relatives and families of people aboard the London-bound Air India flight that crashed in Gujarat's Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon are desperately seeking information about their loved ones, with many still unaware of their fate. Speaking to ANI, one man said, 'My younger brother and his wife were on board. They were going to London to meet their daughter... I have no information about them.' A relative of another passenger said, 'My younger brother's wife was going to London. His family stays in London.' 'My cousin was on board. He was flying to London. My uncle and family members reached Ahmedabad when we learned about the plane crash. There is no official confirmation. He had a business in London. His family is there,' a relative of another passenger said. Earlier in the day, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik confirmed that one survivor had been found. Speaking to ANI on a phone call, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik says, 'The police found one survivor in seat 11A. He has been in the hospital and is under treatment. Cannot say anything about the number of deaths yet. The death toll may increase as the flight crashed in a residential area.' The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people, including 12 crew members, crashed shortly after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon. 'After the takeoff, the plane crashed here and after a preliminary enquiry, we got to know that the ... plane crashed into a building, which is a doctors' hostel,' Jaipal Singh Rathore, Joint Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad, told reporters. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into the doctors' hostel near the airport perimeter. Air India said that among the 230 passengers, 169 were Indians, 53 were British, seven were Portuguese, and one was Canadian. 'Air India confirms that flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an accident today after take-off. The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hours, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals. The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals. We have also set up a dedicated passenger hotline number, 1800 5691 444, to provide more information. Air India is giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident,' the airline said. (ANI)
India Today
14 hours ago
- India Today
Air India crash videos suggest errors in cockpit take-off drills
On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (VT-ANB), crashed in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar at 1:38 PM IST, shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft, bound for London Gatwick, reached only 600–650 feet before issuing a MAYDAY call and crashing into a residential analysis explores the probable causes of the catastrophic crash, focusing on the aircraft's low altitude, low speed, and landing gear configuration, based on preliminary evidence and crash videos. The aircraft reached only 600–650 feet before issuing a MAYDAY call and crashing into a residential area advertisementCrash ContextAircraft: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a modern twin-engine jet with advanced fly-by-wire systems and GE Aerospace GEnx engines, heavily fueled for a 4,200-mile flight. Conditions: Clear weather, 43C, near-sea-level airport (180 feet elevation), high-density altitude reducing lift and Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Indicators: Low altitude (600–650 feet), low speed, and landing gear down, suggesting failure to climb Causes1. Configuration ErrorA configuration error during takeoff involves incorrect settings or actions that prevent the aircraft from achieving the necessary performance (lift, thrust, or climb rate). Common errors include wrong flap settings, insufficient thrust, premature rotation (lifting off too early), or failure to retract landing gear, all of which can reduce climb capability and lead to a stall or loss of control, especially at low altitudes. A configuration error during takeoff means incorrect settings that hinder performance advertisementWhy Configuration Errors Matter?Takeoff is a critical phase with tight performance margins. The 787 requires precise settings for flaps, thrust, and rotation speed (Vr) to achieve lift-off and climb, especially in hot conditions. Errors in these settings, combined with low altitude and speed, leave little time for recovery, as seen in the rapid descent after the MAYDAY Happens: Flaps increase lift and drag during takeoff, allowing the aircraft to fly at lower speeds. The 787 typically uses Flaps 5 or 15 for takeoff, depending on weight, runway length, and flaps too low (eg, Flaps 0) reduces lift, requiring higher speeds to take off, while excessive flaps (eg, Flaps 20) increase drag, hindering climb. Flaps increase lift and drag during takeoff, allowing the aircraft to fly at lower speeds Ahmedabad Context: At 43C, the reduced air density lowered lift, requiring precise flap settings. If the pilots selected insufficient flaps (eg, Flaps 0 instead of 5), the aircraft may have struggled to generate lift, leading to the observed low Factors: Distraction (eg, responding to ATC or a cockpit alert, like engine failure) or miscommunication during pre-takeoff checks could lead to incorrect flap 787's electronic checklist should flag this, but manual override or rushed procedures could bypass Spanair Flight 5022 (2008, MD-82) crashed in Madrid due to zero flaps during takeoff, causing insufficient lift and a stall, despite clear weather. If pilots selected reduced thrust or miscalculated required power, the aircraft could fail to climb 2. Insufficient ThrustThe 787's GEnx engines require specific thrust settings based on weight, runway length, and temperature. At 43C, high-density altitude reduced engine efficiency, necessitating higher thrust. If pilots used reduced thrust (derated takeoff) or miscalculated power via the flight management system (FMS), the heavily fuelled aircraft (near 227 tons) could fail to climb, explaining the low altitude and speed. Pilots typically retract gear after a positive climb rate advertisement3. Failure to Retract Landing GearCrash videos show the landing gear down, increasing drag and reducing climb performance. Pilots typically retract gear after a positive climb rate. Leaving it down suggests:Oversight: Distraction from a stall warning or engine Choice: Anticipating an emergency landing, though the MAYDAY call and rapid descent suggest insufficient time to return.4. Engine Failure (Including Bird Strike)The lack of engine noise in videos and the MAYDAY call suggest possible thrust loss. Potential causes include:Bird Strike: Ahmedabad's known risk could affect one or both engines, though dual-engine failure is rare (<1 in 1 million flights).Fuel Contamination or Mechanical Failure: Less likely given the GEnx engines' reliability, but Engine failure alone doesn't explain the landing gear configuration, making it a secondary factor compared to configuration errors.5. High-Temperature Performance Issues Distraction or miscommunication during pre-takeoff checks could lead to incorrect flap settings At 43C, reduced air density lowered lift and thrust, requiring precise configuration. While the 787's FMS accounts for temperature, a miscalculation of rotation speed (Vr) or thrust, or an intersection takeoff, could exacerbate issues. This is likely a contributing factor rather than the primary Structural Failure The 787's GEnx engines require specific thrust settings based on weight, runway length, and temperature A failure in flight controls or structure is unlikely given the 787's redundant systems and perfect safety record. The gear-down and low-speed evidence points to pilot error over a sudden mechanical issue.7. Sabotage or TerrorismNo evidence supports sabotage, and the MAYDAY call indicates crew awareness of an issue, not a sudden explosion. Security measures further reduce this low altitude, low speed, and landing gear down strongly suggest a configuration error—likely incorrect flap settings, insufficient thrust, premature rotation, or failure to retract gear—as the primary cause of the Air India Flight AI171 crash. Engine failure (possibly from a bird strike or fuel issue) and high-temperature performance challenges are secondary contributors. The 787's advanced systems should mitigate such errors, but human factors, such as a cockpit emergency, distraction or miscommunication, likely played a critical role in this tragedy.(Images by Vani Gupta and Ayushi Srivastava) Must Watch
