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LIVE: Black box recovered from Air India crash site
12 June 2025, 10:20 | Updated: 13 June 2025, 11:04
The British survivor of the Air India plane crash has been visited by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.
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Video footage shows Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, talking to Mr Modi while lying on his hospital bed.
The prime minister also visited the crash site.
Air India confirmed Mr Ramesh was the sole survivor of the 242 people on board the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner when it crashed into a medical college shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport.
It is one of the deadliest plane crashes in terms of the number of British nationals killed, and the first involving a 787.
There are fears the number of people killed on the ground could rise.
Investigations are continuing into the cause of the crash.
Aviation experts have speculated about a number of possible causes for the crash, from both engines failing – possibly due to a bird strike, as happened in the so-called Miracle on the Hudson in 2009 – to the flaps on the aircraft’s wings not being set to the correct position for take-off.
Images taken after the incident showed part of the plane embedded in the BJ Medical College building.
At least five medical students were killed and about 50 injured.
Mr Ramesh was in seat 11A, next to one of the aircraft’s emergency exits.
According to Indian newspaper the Hindustan Times, Mr Ramesh said after the crash: “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.”
What we know so far
- Air India flight 171, bound for Gatwick, crashed minutes after leaving runway, at 1pm local time yesterday,
- Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals,
- 242 people on board the flight died.
- The sole survivor, British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, is recovering in hospital.
- Families have been giving DNA samples to identify the remains of the victims.
- A pilot told LBC he believed it was a “tragic accident” and believed it was likely down to pilot error. An investigation is under way to establish the cause of the crash.
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Survivability of plane crashes like Air India flight 'extremely limited', expert says
An expert has said the survivability of plane crashed like the Ahmedabad crash, which killed 241 people, is 'extremely limited'.
A "large, heavy" airplane like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is likely to be torn apart by the "enormous" energy it carries on impact, Trevor Bock told NBC.
Bock is a safety consultant at Aviation Safety Asia, and said the weight of the plane has an effect on how likely people are to survive the crash.
“We’re talking thousands of kilograms of weight,” Bock told the outlet, adding that the plane had “a lot of fuel," as it had just taken off.
Because of this, it is "pretty well guaranteed" that there will be a fire after the uncontrolled crash.
The specific model of the airplane is "pretty robust," Bock said, adding that "It’s extremely capable aircraft."
The crash was the first time a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was involved in a major incident.
India regulator orders every Boeing 787-8/9 flight to be inspected before take-off
The Indian aviation regulator has ordered extra safety inspection measures for Air India's Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 fleet.
The The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the measure is 'preventive' and that it will be put in place until further notice.
The extra safety checks will come into force from 15 June, as every airplane from the fleet will be subject to a one-off check before take-off.
The 'Flight control inspection' will include extra checks of the electronic engine control system and the cabin air compressor, among other systems.
Within two weeks, checks related to power assurance will also be carried out.
'Important step' as black box found
India's Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu posted on X that the black box of the crashes Air India plane has been found.
He wrote: "The flight data recorder (black box) has been recovered within 28 hours from the accident site in Ahmedabad by AAIB (India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau).
"This marks an important step forward in the investigation.
"This will significantly aid the inquiry into the incident."
India orders 'additional maintenance' on planes
India's Ministry of Civil Aviation said Air India has been ordered to carry out "additional maintenance actions" on its Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft equipped with GE Aerospace GEnx engines.
The Air India plane which crashed on Thursday was a Boeing 787-8 powered by two GEnx engines.
The sole survivor's seat
Sole survivor's cousin speaks out
Hiren Kantilal, 19, said he is close with Vishwash Kumar Ramesh and his brother Ajay, who was also on the flight.
He said: "We want to get out as soon as possible and we can meet our cousin brother Vishwash Kumar Ramesh.
"We just want some help with flight tickets and everything, so we can get out of the country and meet our cousin brother. We are trying to get 14 to 13 people, relatives and family members and everyone.
"We have not got any support from India or the UK Government at all. We're just heartbroken that this thing happened to us and they're not providing anything, flight tickets or anything.
"We spoke to Vishwash this morning. He was on video call today. He has minor injuries on his face and everything, he can walk and spoke properly to us. His condition looks very good from yesterday.
"He said 'the hospital and caring has been very good to me, and they are caring well'."
Politicians meet crash survivor
This photo issued by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs shows Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah meeting British plane crash survivor Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, at a hospital in Ahmedabad
Radiologist from Royal Derby hospital on the flight
Dr Prateek Joshi, a radiologist at the Royal Derby Hospital, was on the Air India flight with his family, Derby Hindu Temple said.
In a post on Facebook, the temple said the family were "devotees of our Mandir and supported us through their sincere service and dedication.
"We pray to Lord Shiva to grant eternal peace to the departed souls and to give strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense loss."
Pope sends "heartfelt condolences" to families affected
Pope Leo XIV has paid condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
A statement released by the Vatican on behalf of the Pope passed on his prayers.
“His Holiness Pope Leo XIV sends his heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives, together with the assurance of prayers for all involved in the recovery efforts,” the Pope’s secretary of state said in a statement.
“Commending the souls of the deceased to the mercy of the Almighty, His Holiness invokes upon all affected the divine blessings of healing and peace."
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