Were Nigerians On Crashed Air India flight AI17? What We Know So Far

A tragic air disaster struck western India on Thursday when an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed just moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

The London-bound Flight AI171 was carrying 242 passengers and crew members and in a heartbreaking turn, only one person survived the crash, marking it as the deadliest plane disaster the country has seen in years and the first-ever crash involving the Boeing 787 Dreamliner model.

The crash also claimed lives on the ground as the aircraft plummeted into the BJ Medical College and Hospital hostel, bringing the total death toll to at least 290.

How It Happened

Shortly after taking off at 1:39 p.m. local time, the aircraft struggled to gain altitude, barely making it past 625 feet before its signal disappeared. Data from FlightRadar 24 shows that the plane suddenly plunged earthward at a rate of 475 feet per minute.

The flight crew quickly issued a Mayday call less than a minute after takeoff, signaling critical trouble to air traffic control.

Disturbing footage captured by eyewitnesses showed the jet struggling to stay aloft, its tail sinking as the nose pointed forward — before disappearing behind apartment buildings, followed by a towering fireball and dark smoke billowing into the sky.

“Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly,” recalled the sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh.

When It Happened

The crash occurred on Thursday, shortly after 1:39 p.m. local time, mere seconds after takeoff. The plane was scheduled to land at London Gatwick nine hours later but never made it past the skies of Ahmedabad.

Were There Nigerians on Board?

According to Air India, there were no Nigerians on board the ill-fated flight. The passengers included:

169 Indian nationals

53 British nationals

7 Portuguese nationals

1 Canadian national

Many on the flight were either returning to Britain after visiting family in India or traveling to reunite with relatives in the UK, reflecting the large Indian diaspora in Britain.

The Survivor’s Account

Astonishingly, one man survived the horrific disaster.

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British father, walked away from the wreckage with injuries to his chest, eyes, and feet. Rescued by local authorities from a residential area near the crash site, Ramesh was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Ramesh described the terrifying moments onboard:

“When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital,” he said.

Ramesh was flying home to London after visiting family in India. Tragically, he reported that his brother, who was also on the flight but seated elsewhere, was missing.

“I can’t find him anymore,” Ramesh said quietly.

As investigations continue into what caused this catastrophic crash, the world mourns the loss of so many lives in what should have been a routine journey.

The aviation industry and travelers alike are left with heavy hearts, awaiting answers and hoping for improved safety measures to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again.