The tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad, India, that claimed the lives of over 200 people, including a family of five from Banswara, Rajasthan is still a topical issue.
The ill-fated Air India flight AI171 was headed for London and crashed shortly after takeoff, plummeting into a medical college complex in the Meghaninagar area. The aircraft erupted in flames, devastating the building and causing additional casualties on the ground.
Now, details are emerging of the human angle to the story. Among the passengers killed were Pratik Joshi, a software engineer, his wife Dr. Komi Vyas, their twin sons Pradyut and Nakul, and their eldest daughter Miraya.
The family had been relocating to the UK to begin a new chapter in their lives after years of planning. Pratik had worked abroad for nine years and was finally bringing his family to live with him.
Dr. Komi Vyas had resigned from her job just two days earlier in preparation for the move. Before boarding, the family took a selfie and sent it to relatives, unaware that it would be their last photo together. Residents of Banswara were left in deep mourning.
A close friend of the family said, “The whole town is in mourning.”
Experienced Flight Crew Among the Dead
The pilot of the aircraft, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, had over 8,200 hours of flying experience. He was assisted by First Officer Clive Kunder, who had completed his flight training in Florida and had flown 1,100 hours.
The cabin crew also included Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam and Lamnunthem Singson, along with other senior members such as Shradha Dhavan, Aparna Mahadik, Saineeta Chakravarti, Deepak Pathak, Maithili Patil, Irfan Shaikh, Roshni Songhare Rajendra, and Manisha Thapa.
Their photos were released following the crash, as Air India confirmed the names of those working onboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The loss of the entire crew adds another layer of grief to the already devastating event.
One Survivor Speaks from Hospital Bed
Amidst the tragedy, one passenger miraculously survived. British father Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, was found injured but alive. He had been seated in 11A when the crash happened. Speaking from his hospital bed, he described the terrifying moment the aircraft went down.
“Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly,” he said. “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,” he added.
Mr. Ramesh was flying back to his home in London after visiting relatives in India. He suffered injuries to his chest, eyes, and feet. He was spotted walking away from the scene in visible distress before being helped by emergency workers.
Passenger List and Ongoing Rescue Efforts
The plane had 242 people onboard. Among them were 53 British nationals, 159 Indian citizens, seven Portuguese passengers, and one Canadian. Eleven children, including two newborns, were also among the passengers.
Authorities had initially believed there were no survivors. But aside from Mr. Ramesh, police later confirmed they found another survivor at the medical facility the plane struck.
Rescue teams, aided by the Indian military, have recovered 204 bodies so far. The search continues both inside the crash site and in the damaged buildings nearby. The crash caused destruction not only among passengers but also among doctors and staff working at the medical college hit by the plane.
What Went Wrong
Experts believe the crash might have been caused by a sudden loss of power during the most critical phase of the flight—just after takeoff.
Investigations are still ongoing, and black box data is being analyzed to determine what led to such a rapid and deadly failure. Until then, aviation authorities and safety boards are urging for a full review of Boeing Dreamliner safety protocols.
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