New Delhi, November 5: An Air India special flight landed in the national capital on Wednesday morning carrying 228 passengers and 17 crew members who had been stranded in Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolian capital, after a precautionary diversion earlier in the week.

As per agency report, the relief service operated as AI183 on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and touched down in Delhi at around 8:24 am. The passengers belonged to flight AI174 from San Francisco, which had been routed via Kolkata to Delhi but was diverted to Ulaanbaatar on Monday when the operating crew suspected a technical issue en route. The Boeing 777 aircraft involved in the diversion landed safely in Mongolia, following which arrangements were made to transport those on board to India.

Air India said the dedicated operation was mounted to bring back all travellers affected by the off-route landing, and the airline thanked customers for their patience during the disruption. Officials added that a total of 245 people had been on the diverted aircraft, including 228 passengers and 17 crew, and confirmed that the contingency flight successfully repatriated them to Delhi on Wednesday morning.

New Delhi, July 12 – The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary report on the crash of Air India Flight AI171, which went down shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad on June 12. The report has revealed that both engines of the Boeing 787-8 aircraft (registration VT-ANB) shut down within seconds of each other shortly after the flight began, leading to the catastrophic incident.

The ill-fated flight was scheduled to operate from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. According to AAIB, the aircraft had previously arrived in Ahmedabad as AI423 from Delhi, during which the crew reported certain status messages in the technical log. Air India's duty engineers resolved the flagged issues based on the Fault Isolation Manual, and the aircraft was cleared for flight at 6:40 AM UTC.

The crew comprised an ATPL holder captain, a CPL holder first officer, and 10 cabin crew members. Both pilots were well-rested, having arrived from Mumbai the previous day, and were deemed fit for duty following a breathalyzer test.

The aircraft was carrying 230 passengers – 15 in business class and 215 in economy. No dangerous goods were reported on board, and the aircraft's weight and balance were within limits.

As per agency report, at 8:08:42 AM UTC, the aircraft reached an airspeed of 180 knots. Seconds later, both Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches were activated one after another, causing the engines to shut down. The cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot asking the other why he had shut off the fuel supply, to which the response was a denial, indicating neither had knowingly done so.

CCTV footage confirmed that the aircraft lifted off normally before quickly losing altitude. The ram air turbine (RAT) deployed automatically, suggesting severe power failure. The aircraft failed to gain significant height before beginning its descent, sending out a “Mayday” call by 1:39 PM.

Efforts to restart Engine 1 showed some signs of success, but Engine 2 failed to stabilize despite multiple fuel re-injection attempts. The investigation found no evidence of bird strike or the presence of foreign objects along the flight path. Additionally, the aircraft had a valid airworthiness certificate until May 2026, and both engines had been recently installed – in March and May 2025.

The report also pointed to a 2018 FAA advisory that warned of possible fuel control switch malfunctions. However, Air India did not act on it as it was not classified as mandatory. The AAIB noted this as a contributing factor under review.

Air India acknowledged the AAIB’s findings and expressed solidarity with affected families. In a social media post, the airline stated, “We stand in solidarity with the families and individuals impacted by the AI171 tragedy. We extend our deepest condolences and remain committed to supporting all those affected.”

Boeing also issued a statement expressing condolences to the victims’ families and stated it would continue cooperating with investigators, citing ICAO Annex 13 guidelines on international aviation accident protocols.

The AAIB confirmed that the investigation is ongoing. All recovered parts, including broken aircraft components and engine assemblies, have been secured for detailed examination. The agency is collecting and analyzing all relevant data, records, and evidence to determine the root cause of the dual engine shutdown.

Ahmedabad, June 20 — More than a week after the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, the Gujarat government announced that the identities of 220 victims have been confirmed through DNA testing, and 202 bodies have so far been handed over to their respective families. The update was shared by Gujarat Health Minister and government spokesperson Rishikesh Patel on Friday.

The devastating incident occurred on June 12, when a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, en route to London, crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 PM. The plane went down within the premises of a medical college in the city, resulting in the deaths of 270 people, including residents near the crash site. Out of the 242 passengers on board, only one survived, while 29 others on the ground also lost their lives.

Due to the severe nature of the crash and the extent of the burns suffered by many victims, traditional identification was not possible for a significant number of bodies. As per agency report, authorities have been relying on DNA analysis to carry out the identification process.

Patel stated that DNA matches have been confirmed for 220 individuals, and efforts are underway to contact the remaining families. Of the 202 bodies already returned to relatives, 160 were Indian nationals, while the others included 34 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian citizen. He also mentioned that 15 bodies were sent by air to their native locations, while the remaining 187 were transported by road.

The identification and repatriation process continues, with government agencies working closely with bereaved families during this difficult time.

Ahmedabad, June 17 – Five days after the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, authorities have confirmed the identities of 135 victims through DNA testing. So far, the remains of 101 individuals have been handed over to their families, officials said on Tuesday.

The devastating crash, which occurred on June 12, claimed 270 lives. Many of the victims were severely burnt, making identification through conventional means impossible. Forensic teams have been relying on DNA samples to establish the identities of the deceased.

Dr. Rakesh Joshi, Medical Superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, told reporters, “As of Tuesday morning, DNA samples of 135 individuals have been matched. We have handed over 101 bodies to their families. Among these, five victims were not on the aircraft.”

He added that the identified victims were from various regions including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Diu. Dr. Joshi expressed hope that the DNA matching process for all remaining victims would be completed by Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.

The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had taken off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 PM on Thursday, bound for London. Within minutes, it crashed into the premises of a nearby medical college.

Out of the 242 people on board, only one survived. Additionally, 29 people on the ground were also killed in the incident, including five MBBS students present at the college campus.

The authorities are continuing their efforts to provide closure to grieving families while investigating the causes behind one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent history.

Ahmedabad, June 14 – The 17-year-old boy who unintentionally recorded the horrifying crash of the Air India flight in Ahmedabad has provided a witness statement to the city’s police, officials confirmed on Saturday. The video, which went viral on social media, captured the tragic moment when the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff.

According to a statement issued by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch, the teenager, Aryan, who regularly films planes during takeoff, happened to record one of India’s worst aviation disasters on Thursday. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, bound for London, crashed into a medical college building moments after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Of the 242 people onboard, 241 lost their lives, along with several others on the ground.

Police refuted speculation that the boy had been detained, clarifying that he was neither arrested nor taken into custody. "No one has been arrested in connection with the video. A screen recording of the mobile footage went viral. The minor, accompanied by his father, voluntarily provided a statement as a witness and was later allowed to return home," the police clarified.

Aryan, speaking briefly to reporters, said the crash occurred just 24 seconds after he began recording. “What I saw left me terrified. My sister was the first to watch the video and she informed our father. I had no idea the plane would crash,” he said.

His sister added that Aryan was deeply shaken and is now reluctant to stay in the area due to the traumatic experience. “He couldn’t even speak properly after witnessing the crash,” she said.

The family, who live in a rented home near the crash site, spent a sleepless night after the incident. Their landlady confirmed that Aryan didn’t eat or rest the entire night, visibly disturbed by what he had seen.

Amreli (Gujarat), June 14 – In a deeply tragic turn of events, 36-year-old Arjun Patolia, a resident of Vadia village in Gujarat’s Amreli district and a British citizen, was among the 241 victims who lost their lives in the devastating Air India plane crash on Thursday. Arjun had returned to India with a solemn purpose — to immerse the ashes of his late wife, Bharti, in the sacred Narmada River.

Bharti had passed away just two weeks earlier in London after a prolonged illness. Arjun, who had been living in London with his wife and their two daughters aged four and eight, had performed her funeral rites there before travelling to India to fulfill her final wish.

According to his brother Sanjay Patolia, after completing the rituals near Vadodara, Arjun was en route to board his return flight from Ahmedabad when tragedy struck. “Soon after the plane took off, we received the heartbreaking news of the crash. We are shattered,” Sanjay said with a choked voice.

Arjun’s sudden death has left his young daughters orphaned. “Both girls are currently staying with close relatives in London,” Sanjay added.

What began as a journey of closure and devotion ended in unimaginable sorrow. The Air India flight, which crashed moments after taking off from Ahmedabad on Thursday, has claimed hundreds of lives and left families like Arjun’s in grief and despair.

Ahmedabad, June 14 – The number of fatalities from the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad has risen to 270, according to doctors at the city's Civil Hospital. This marks an increase from the previously reported death toll of 265, as rescue teams continue to recover human remains from the crash site.

Officials confirmed that in the past 24 hours, Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES) recovered one more body along with additional body parts from the debris at the crash site in the Meghani Nagar area.

Dr. Dhaval Gameti, President of the Junior Doctors Association at BJ Medical College, stated that approximately 270 bodies have now been brought to the Civil Hospital for identification. The process of matching DNA samples with those of relatives is still underway, after which the remains will be handed over to the families.

The tragedy unfolded on Thursday afternoon when an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner (flight AI171), carrying 242 passengers and crew members, crashed moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft went down in the premises of a medical hostel and canteen in the densely populated Meghani Nagar locality.

As per agency report, search and recovery operations are ongoing, with teams carefully combing the wreckage to ensure that all remains are retrieved and identified. The incident stands as one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s recent history.

Ahmedabad, June 13 – In a devastating tragedy that claimed 241 lives, only one passenger survived the crash of Air India’s Dreamliner flight AI171 on Thursday near Ahmedabad. That survivor, British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 45, was seated on seat 11A—an economy class window seat located beside an emergency exit.

The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 aircraft, commonly known as the Dreamliner, was en route from Ahmedabad to London with 242 people onboard, including 12 crew members. According to the seat map of Air India’s B787-8 configuration, seat 11A is part of the first row in the economy section and is adjacent to an emergency exit, which may have played a crucial role in Ramesh’s miraculous survival.

While it is too early to determine the exact reason for his escape, proximity to the emergency exit likely gave him a critical advantage in evacuating the burning aircraft. The aircraft reportedly caught fire after crashing into the premises of a medical college shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

Air India currently operates 27 Dreamliners, each configured with 238 economy and 18 business class seats. The airline has plans to retrofit the fleet in the coming months with upgraded features.

As per agency report, Air India has officially confirmed the deaths of 241 passengers and crew members aboard the AI171 flight. The passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the crash site and later met with Ramesh at Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital, remarked, “The only good news in this horrific tragedy is that one person survived.”

The extraordinary survival of the lone passenger amid such catastrophic loss has drawn widespread attention, with experts and authorities expected to investigate further into how this rare escape occurred.

Ahmedabad, June 12 – In a tragic turn of events near Ahmedabad, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route to London crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon. Amid fears that all 242 onboard may have perished, a glimmer of hope emerged as one passenger was found alive.

According to a doctor at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, the survivor has been identified as Vishwakumar Ramesh, who was seated in 'A11' on the ill-fated flight. Ramesh was traveling with his brother to London and has now been admitted to the trauma ward of the hospital. Dr. Sharique M., who is treating him, confirmed his admission and ongoing care.

As per agency report, the aircraft, operating as flight AI171, crashed into the premises of a medical college located near the airport, triggering a massive rescue and firefighting operation. While rescue teams have been working tirelessly at the site, no official confirmation has yet been made regarding the exact number of fatalities.

The plane was carrying 230 passengers along with two pilots and ten crew members. Air India stated that among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals.

Despite several hours having passed since the crash, authorities have not released a confirmed death toll. Emergency response teams continue to search the wreckage, and the identification process for victims remains ongoing. The survival of one passenger amid such devastation has brought a rare moment of relief in an otherwise harrowing tragedy.

Ahmedabad, June 12 – In one of the most devastating aviation disasters in recent Indian history, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft bound for London’s Gatwick airport crashed on Thursday afternoon shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft, operating as flight AI171, was carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers, two pilots, and ten crew members. The crash occurred within minutes of takeoff, in the premises of BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital, located near the airport.

As per agency report, officials fear that there may be no survivors, although an official death toll has not yet been confirmed. Visuals from the site showed a massive fireball and thick black smoke rising from the crash scene, as emergency responders rushed to the site for rescue and evacuation efforts. According to aviation sources, the aircraft had climbed only 600 to 800 feet before nosediving and crashing. The pilot had issued a "Mayday" distress call to air traffic control at 1:39 PM, but no further communication was received after that.

The aircraft, which was 11 years old, reportedly crashed into a residential area within the BJ Medical College campus, damaging several buildings, scorching trees, and destroying nearby vehicles. The tail section of the plane was seen crashing into the upper floors of what is believed to be a dining area in a hostel for nurses and medical students. Witnesses said the impact was followed by a massive fire, affecting nearby five-storey apartment buildings and causing injuries to residents as well.

Among the passengers was former Gujarat Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Rupani, whose death was confirmed by party president C R Patil. Rupani, known for his calm demeanor and firm governance, had served as Chief Minister from 2016 to 2021 and played a significant role during Gujarat’s COVID-19 response.

The flight was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals. The black box (flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder) is being searched to determine the cause of the crash. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft lost contact shortly after issuing the emergency call and crashed outside the airport perimeter.

This is the first major crash involving a Boeing Dreamliner in India and the deadliest since 2020, when an Air India Express flight crash-landed in Kozhikode, resulting in 21 deaths. Thursday’s tragedy led to the temporary suspension of operations at the Ahmedabad airport, which have since been resumed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief on X, stating that the tragedy is "heart-wrenching and beyond words." He added that he is in touch with ministers and officials overseeing rescue operations. President Droupadi Murmu also offered her condolences, saying that the nation stands with the affected families in this time of sorrow.

International leaders, including King Charles III of the United Kingdom, expressed shock and sympathy. Buckingham Palace issued a statement calling the incident a “horrific accident,” with the British government offering to assist Indian authorities in investigation and support efforts. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the crash as "horrific," especially given the presence of several British nationals on the flight.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Ahmedabad to assess the situation, while Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu visited the crash site and is personally monitoring rescue and relief operations. He confirmed that DGCA, AAI, Air India, NDRF, and local authorities are working together for coordinated response efforts.

DGCA later released a statement confirming that the aircraft was under the command of Captain Sumit Sabharwal, an experienced pilot with over 8,200 flying hours, accompanied by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours. The plane took off from runway 23 and crashed moments later outside the airport boundary.

Eyewitness Haresh Shah reported that the aircraft was flying dangerously low before striking residential quarters housing doctors and nurses. Several buildings caught fire, and residents suffered injuries due to both the crash and ensuing blaze.

Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran, who also heads the Tata Group, confirmed the crash and assured that all necessary support is being extended to victims and their families. He emphasized that the airline is assisting emergency responders and will do everything possible to support those affected.

Aircraft manufacturer Boeing issued a brief statement acknowledging the incident and said it is gathering more information. Air India has activated a passenger helpline at 1800 5691 444 for families seeking information.

This marks the second major aviation tragedy in Ahmedabad’s history. The previous one occurred on October 19, 1988, when an Indian Airlines flight crashed at the city’s airport, killing 130 people.

As the nation mourns, rescue efforts continue through the night amid rising questions about the cause of the crash. Authorities are expected to release a detailed investigation report in the coming days.

Surat, March 8 – In a significant development for Surat travelers, Air India Express has announced the launch of a direct flight from Surat to Goa, starting March 30. The flight will complete the journey in just two hours, with a one-way fare set at ₹5,800. Bookings for the service have already begun.

As per agency reports, the Surat-Goa flight will depart from Surat at 7:30 PM and arrive in Goa at 9:25 PM. Following its stop in Goa, the flight will continue to Bengaluru, allowing passengers traveling between Surat and Bengaluru to remain on the same aircraft without changing flights. The return flight from Bengaluru will take off at 3:45 PM and land in Surat at 7:20 PM. From Surat, it will then depart at 7:50 PM and reach its final destination at 11:25 PM.

Currently, IndiGo operates one daily and one weekly flight between Surat and Goa. With Air India Express adding this third flight, connectivity between the two destinations will improve further. Additionally, the summer schedule, set to take effect from March 28, is expected to introduce several new flights from Surat International Airport.

Surat has also recently witnessed international connectivity expansion. Earlier, flights from Surat to Mauritius were introduced, with IndiGo launching a flight via Bengaluru on December 4. Operating four times a week, the Mauritius-bound service takes approximately 14 hours, including a 6-hour, 25-minute layover in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, domestic air connectivity in Gujarat is also improving, with winter flight plans being developed for key airports in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot.

New Delhi : Tata-led Air India Airlines announced on Saturday that it has extended the check-in deadline for its international flights. The airline stated that check-in counters will now close 75 minutes before the scheduled departure time. This new rule will apply to all international departures from the capital city, New Delhi, effective from September 10, 2024.

In a statement shared via X (formerly Twitter), Air India said, "Check-in counters for international departures from New Delhi will now close 75 minutes before your scheduled departure time." The airline explained that this adjustment from the previous 60-minute closure is aimed at ensuring a smoother and more comfortable travel experience, allowing sufficient time for check-in procedures and security clearance even during peak periods. "We appreciate your cooperation in arriving at the airport before this new closing time," the airline added.

Earlier, in August, Air India had also requested passengers to report on time at check-in counters, informing them about the new 75-minute deadline from September 10, 2024. It’s important to note that the international departure area is used by passengers traveling abroad. After passing through the passport checkpoint located in the international terminal, passengers can proceed towards the international departure area.

This new check-in deadline is part of Air India's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency and overall experience for its international travelers.