Residents near the crash site of Air India Flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad recounted scenes of chaos, panic, and destruction after the plane plunged into their neighbourhood, killing 241 people on board. Eyewitnesses described the experience as akin to a powerful earthquake or bomb explosion.
Rekha Kshtriya, a longtime resident of the area, said she was inside her home around 1:30 PM on Thursday when she heard a deafening blast. “We’re used to loud sounds, but this one felt like our eardrums would burst. Our furniture shook violently—it felt like an earthquake or a bomb blast. When we ran outside, we saw aircraft parts scattered everywhere, thick black smoke in the sky, and flames rising high,” she told ANI.
Another local, Priyanshu, said the fire quickly spread from one building to another. “The whole area was engulfed in black smoke. It felt like something massive had exploded,” he said.
Bahadur Kshatriy, who lives around 500 metres from the site, rushed to help with rescue efforts. “I heard the loud bang and ran towards the crash site. Along with my friends and security personnel, we rescued five students who were crying for help from under the debris of a nearby mess hall. They were in very serious condition,” he said, adding that they also found a charred body under the rubble.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad International Airport on June 12. Only one of the 242 people on board survived the crash, marking one of the worst aviation disasters in recent Indian history.
In the aftermath, Tata Group-owned Air India has launched a 24/7 passenger helpline: 1800 5691 444 (within India) and +91 8062779200 (international). The airline has also announced a compensation of ₹1 crore for the families of each deceased passenger.
Meanwhile, the Central government has established a high-level multidisciplinary committee to investigate the crash. Headed by the Union Home Secretary, the panel will include representatives from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Indian Air Force, and aviation experts. The committee’s mandate includes reviewing current Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), assessing emergency response coordination, and recommending policy reforms to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The Civil Aviation Ministry clarified that this committee will function independently of other official investigations, focusing specifically on SOP formulation and incident handling frameworks.
