Plane crash in India. First crash of a Dreamliner in history

Tragic news from India. An Air India plane flying to London crashed in Ahmedabad. As a result of the tragic accident, 290 people were killed. The crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which occurred on Thursday, is the first such incident in the history of these aircraft.

Circumstances of the crash

The tragic accident occurred at around 2 p.m. local time on June 12, 2025. The plane crashed into the upper floors and dining hall of a student dormitory of the B.J. Public Medical Academy in Ahmedabad, where approximately 60-80 people were staying.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers: 169 Indian citizens, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian citizen. It has been determined that 217 passengers were adults and 11 were children. In addition, there were two pilots and ten crew members on board.

Only one passenger survived the plane crash

As a result of the crash, 290 people were killed: passengers, crew members, as well as students and university staff who were in the building. In addition, at least 50 people were injured.

According to a representative of the state health department, only one passenger survived the crash out of the 242 people on board the plane. According to Indian media, the survivor is a 40-year-old British citizen of Indian origin, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was traveling in seat 11A. He is currently in hospital and his condition is unknown.

How did the crash happen?

The plane, which had just taken off from Ahmedabad, lost control during takeoff and crashed into an administrative building located in the immediate vicinity of the runway. According to preliminary reports, the accident may have been caused by serious technical problems combined with crew error, although the investigation is still ongoing. Adverse weather conditions and flight control system failures have not been ruled out.

Black box found?

The Hindustan Times reported on Friday that authorities had found one of the two black boxes from the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. However, Reuters reported that it was unable to verify these reports. The newspaper did not say whether the flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder had been recovered.

The crash in India is the first in the history of the Dreamliner

The crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on Thursday in India is the first such incident in the history of these aircraft. However, there have been several incidents involving this aircraft in the past.

The most recent incident occurred on January 24, 2025, when a plane flying from Lagos to Washington suddenly lost altitude. As a result of the incident, 15 people suffered minor injuries. One person required hospitalization. The aircraft turned back and landed safely in Lagos.

It is worth mentioning that LOT Polish Airlines has eight Dreamliner 787-8 aircraft and seven 787-9 aircraft. These aircraft operate regular flights from Warsaw to destinations including the United States.

Reactions to the crash

The tragedy in Ahmedabad is one of the worst air disasters in Indian history. The country's prime minister, Narendra Modi, called the accident shocking and emphasized that the scale of the tragedy “leaves one speechless.” He added that his thoughts are with all those who suffered in the crash and with their loved ones.

Condolences and expressions of sympathy are pouring in from around the world in response to the plane crash. Particular words of support were expressed by the leaders of countries whose citizens were on board the plane: King Charles III of the United Kingdom, accompanied by Queen Elizabeth II, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as well as the prime ministers of Canada, Mark Carney, and Portugal, Luis Montenegro.

Condolences were also expressed by Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Boeing is ready to help

- We remain in contact with Air India regarding flight 171 and are ready to assist them - Boeing said in an official statement.

The aircraft manufacturer also added that its thoughts are with the passengers, crew, rescuers and all those affected by the disaster.