On June 12, 2025, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating Air India Flight AI171 crashed minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad for London Gatwick. Just two hours earlier, entrepreneur Akash Vatsa flew on the same aircraft, from Delhi to Ahmedabad, and noticed severe cabin issues. His warnings, captured on video, remain online as chilling evidence of what followed.
A Pre-Crash Warning
Akash shared on X (formerly Twitter):
“I was in the same d**n flight 2 hours before it took off from AMD. Noticed unusual things in the place. Made a video to tweet to @airindia.”
In his video, he pointed out:
- Air-conditioning not working (passengers fanning themselves using magazines)
- In-flight entertainment screens dead
- Crew call buttons and lights non-responsive
- Loose seat parts and broken fittings
Akash posted this video to alert Air India about the issues, sparking concerns about whether safety warnings had been overlooked.
The Crash That Followed
Flight AI171 took off from Ahmedabad at 13:38 IST with 242 people onboard (169 Indians, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, 1 Canadian).
It climbed to about 825 feet before suddenly descending and crashing near the Meghani Nagar residential area. Debris erupted in flames, shrouded by thick smoke. Ahmedabad airport was immediately shut as rescue teams responded.
Initial reports indicate no survivors, though one passenger—British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh—survived despite serious injuries. Rescue personnel noted the aircraft made a “controlled descent,” with gear down and nose tilted up before impact.
Why Akash’s Video Matters
- It gives a first-person account of serious cabin issues just hours before the crash.
- The video provides visual proof—not just an eyewitness claim.
- It raises concerns about aircraft maintenance and safety checks.
What We Know (and Don’t)
- Known: Crash occurred minutes after takeoff; one survivor; heavy casualties on board and possibly on-ground victims.
- Suspected: A technical fault may have led to the crash.
- Unknown: Whether the cabin issues indicated deeper failures.
The Investigation
- DGCA, AAIB, and Boeing are all involved.
- They’re analyzing black boxes, maintenance records, and crew communications.
- This is the first crash of a Boeing 787 since its introduction—a model with a largely safe history.
- Boeing’s stock fell by 5–8% in response to news of the crash
Correction Notice (Updated September 26, 2025)
An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Akash Vatsa had deleted his tweets and video related to Air India Flight AI171. We have verified that his posts remain publicly available and have updated the article to reflect this. We regret the error and any misunderstanding it may have caused.