Kalpeshbhqi Patni, 28, mourns as he waits outside the postmortem room at a hospital for his brother's body on Saturday in Ahmedabad, India.
In what should have been a proud moment, Sangeeta Gauswami waved goodbye to her 19-year-old son, Sanket, at Ahmedabad airport as he left to begin a new journey at a university in London. Just a day later, she found herself clinging to hope—and then despair—after hearing about the Air India crash that claimed 241 lives.
Sanket was aboard Flight AI171, which plummeted from the sky just seconds after take-off. Only one passenger survived. The crash has devastated hundreds of families across India and beyond.
A Devastating Crash Rocks India
The ill-fated Boeing Dreamliner crashed into a hostel belonging to a medical college, instantly killing passengers, crew, and several people on the ground. Authorities say it's among the deadliest aviation disasters India has witnessed in decades.
India’s National Disaster Response Force located the plane’s flight recorder. Investigators hope it will offer crucial insight into what caused the tragedy.
Grief Turns to DNA Matching
With bodies burnt beyond recognition, DNA samples are being collected from family members to identify victims. At Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, more than 190 relatives have submitted samples, a painful step for families already reeling from loss.
For Gauswami, the wait is unbearable. “We have had no news,” she says, barely able to speak. “We keep asking, but no one will tell us.”
A Family’s Final Journey
Javed Ali Syed was on the flight with his wife Mariam and their children, Zayn, 6, and Amani, 4. A longtime UK resident, Javed had come to India to visit his ailing mother.
His close friend, Sunny Kakadia, dropped the family off at the airport. “We arrived at the hospital at 2 a.m.,” Kakadia told reporters. “His brother gave his DNA. They say results will come by Sunday.”
He added, “We haven’t even gotten time to cry.”
Hospital Halls Echo with Grief
Inside Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, grief is overwhelming. Families pace hallways. Quiet sobs mix with gut-wrenching cries. Some cling to hope, others brace for bad news.
Manisha Thapa’s family rushed from Patna after learning she was part of the cabin crew. “She had called to say we wouldn’t be able to talk because she was on a long flight,” her mother said, weeping.
Her father hasn’t stopped crying since giving his DNA
A Miracle in the Rubble
Among the 242 on board, only one lived: 32-year-old British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh. His survival is being called a miracle.
“Everyone around me was either dead or dying,” he told India’s DD News. “I still don’t understand how I’m alive.”
Ramesh managed to crawl out through a break in the fuselage after unbuckling himself. Images of him bloodied but walking have gone viral on social media.
Investigations Underway
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site Friday and met with the lone survivor. His presence brought brief comfort to some families, though questions remain.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board will lead a team to assist with the investigation. The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch is also offering support.
Officials are focused on confirming identities and supporting the grieving. But soon, attention will turn to how and why the plane went down.
A Nation in Mourning
As families wait for DNA results, India mourns. What was meant to be a routine flight turned into a national tragedy. With international teams joining the investigation, hopes are high that answers will come.
But for now, families like the Gauswamis, Syeds, and Thapas can only hold on to memories—and await closure.
