On June 15, 2025, Air India Flight 171 tragically crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad, heading for London, resulting in the loss of at least 270 lives. The plane, a Boeing 787, went down within seconds, colliding with buildings at a nearby medical college, creating a catastrophic fireball. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who was contemplating retirement to care for his elderly father, and co-pilot Clive Kunder, just starting his flight career, were at the helm when the incident occurred.
Emergency response teams are working tirelessly to recover remains, but identification remains challenging, with only 19 victims confirmed through DNA testing as of Sunday morning following the disaster. Investigators have cordoned off the crash site, concentrating their efforts on retrieving key data from the flight's black boxes, particularly the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. These recordings may clarify whether the crash resulted from mechanical failure, human error, or other contributing factors.
Despite the ongoing inquiry, experts share a consensus: the pilots faced an almost insurmountable challenge in regaining control of the aircraft in its final moments. The tragic event has left families and friends of the victims in deep mourning, while the aviation and local communities rally for answers and support in the aftermath of this devastating loss.
