Live

LIVE: Black box recovered from Air India crash site

12 June 2025, 10:20 | Updated: 13 June 2025, 11:04

Parts of the Air India plane that crashed on Thursday
Parts of the Air India plane that crashed on Thursday. Picture: Alamy

By Asher McShane and William Mata

The British survivor of the Air India plane crash has been visited by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

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.

Read also: Doctor couple and their children took selfie to celebrate 'new beginnings' moments before disaster struck

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh was visited by Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, in hospital in Ahmedabad
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh was visited by Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, in hospital in Ahmedabad. Picture: NARENDRA MODI YOUTUBE CHANNEL/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

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.”

Today's coverage is coming to an end

Thank you for following our live blog. Today's coverage is now coming to an end.

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."

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Russia's President Vladimir Putin

Russia could launch 'preventative strikes' on the West if 'necessary', Putin ally warns

Wounded Palestinians, including Father Jebrail Romanelli, are brought to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital after an Israeli attack targeted the Holy Family Church in eastern Gaza City.

Two dead in Israeli attack on Catholic church in Gaza as Pope Leo calls for immediate ceasefire

Captain Sumeet Sabharwal is thought to have been suffering from mental health problems

Air India captain 'cut off' fuel before fatal crash, US officials say

Wilawan Emsawat has been arrested for allegedly having sex with monks and blackmailing them

Thai woman filmed herself having sex with Buddhist monks and blackmailed them

A few houses sit on a grassy area with mountain ranges in the background

Tsunami warning issued following 7.3 magnitude earthquake in Alaska

Shocking footage showed the stage at the iconic European dance festival in Boom, Belgium, engulfed in flames on Wednesday afternoon

Tomorrowland main stage destroyed by fire hours before festival start

As the news reporter is presenting - a huge explosion is captured erupting in the background.

Moment Israeli airstrike blasts Syria military HQ on live TV as news reporter flees in terror

Smoke billows following Israeli strikes near the Syrian army and defence ministry headquarters in Damascus.

Israel warns 'painful blows will come' as it ramps up strikes on Syria and sends more troops to the border

A volcano in Iceland has erupted, leading to evacuations.

Iceland volcano erupts for 12th time since 2021, prompting evacuations from iconic Blue Lagoon spa

A man and a woman smile at the camera

Ghislaine Maxwell could use ‘government misconduct’ to challenge imprisonment

Thousands of starving Palestinians flock to an aid distribution centre in order to receive food package.

At least 19 die in crowd crush near Gaza aid distribution centre, says US and Israel-backed aid group

Taliban fighters display their flag on patrol in Kabul, Afghanistan (Rahmat Gul/AP)

Taliban claims it has had the 'kill list' for years and is hunting down Afghans named

Bradley Murdoch, the killer of British backpacker Peter Falconio has died after being moved to palliative care last month.

The killer of backpacker Peter Falconio has died without revealing the location of the Briton's remains

People search for their belongings amid the debris of destroyed houses in the aftermath of Israeli bombardment in Gaza City, on July 15, 2025.

Israeli strikes kill more than 90 Palestinians overnight, including 19 members of the same family

An Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

India-bound Boeing forced to turn back mid-flight amid concerns over fuel switches

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Mark Rutte, NATO's secretary general, at the White House

Trump announces weapons for Ukraine after he allegedly asked Zelenskyy whether they can hit Moscow