CRIME FILES SPECIAL REPORT
“Flight AI‑171: The 38 Seconds That Vanished 279 Lives”
By: Crime Bureau | The Curious Eye Network | June 16, 2025
Ahmedabad: A Takeoff That Became a Fireball
On June 12, 2025, at exactly 13:38 IST, the skies above Ahmedabad witnessed a chilling event that blurred the lines between technical failure, human error, and something more sinister.
Air India Flight AI‑171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London Gatwick, never truly left the ground. Within 38 seconds, the flight nose-dived directly into the BJ Medical College hostel in Meghani Nagar, bursting into flames and ending 279 lives — 242 on board and 37 innocents on the ground.
The only person to escape alive? A man in Seat 11A, near the left emergency exit. His name: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh.
The Final Words: “Thrust Not Achieved… Falling… Mayday…”
Eyewitnesses heard a deafening roar, followed by a momentary silence — then an explosion that lit up the sky. ATC logs confirm the chilling final broadcast:
“Thrust not achieved… falling… Mayday…”
Video footage reviewed by aviation experts shows that the plane never retracted its landing gear. Flaps appeared half-deployed. Altitude gain was minimal — if any.
The aircraft simply dropped like a stone, raising urgent and frightening questions.
Theories in the Shadows: Was It Just a Technical Glitch?
1. Flaps vs Gear — A Fatal Switch?
A popular theory is rooted in human error: that the pilot might have retracted the flaps too early instead of the gear, removing lift just as the aircraft needed it most.
2. Thrust Failure or Drag Overload
The plane’s dual engines failed to generate enough thrust to counter drag from its extended undercarriage and partially deployed flaps. Maintenance logs are now under scrutiny.
3. Fuel System or Sensor Sabotage
While the official line mentions mechanical checks, unconfirmed leaks suggest that fuel flow inconsistencies and sensor manipulation are under investigation.
4. Cyberattack or Targeted Disruption?
In the hours leading up to the crash, a top-level Indian delegation’s Europe visit was cancelled for unexplained “security reasons.” Anti-terror agencies are now looking into potential cyber sabotage.
Survivor’s Testimony: “I Saw People Burn While I Crawled Out”
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a tech consultant from Hyderabad, was seated near the rear left emergency exit. According to a confidential source inside the trauma care unit:
“He told doctors he felt the plane shaking right after takeoff… and saw flames licking windows before the explosion. He unlatched the door and jumped just before impact.”
His survival remains the only living clue to what went wrong in those 38 seconds.
A Number That Foretold Death? ‘1206’ and Vijay Rupani’s Final Flight
One detail has baffled even hardened crime reporters. Among the deceased was former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, who was known to favor the number 1206 — etched into his car plates, hotel rooms, even his airline preferences.
He died on 12/06/2025 — the exact numeric reversal of “1206”.
More eerily, a KidZania-themed newspaper ad that morning showed an Air India plane bursting through a cartoon building, published hours before the crash in Mid-Day. Was it innocent coincidence — or something prophetic?
Ongoing Investigation: Missing Recorder, Global Scrutiny
- The flight data recorder has been retrieved.
- The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) is still missing — or possibly destroyed in the fireball.
- Investigations are jointly led by India’s AAIB, U.S. NTSB, UK AAIB, and Boeing.
India’s DGCA has grounded all Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners in the national fleet pending technical inspections — including fuel sensors, flap actuators, and thrust regulators.
The Human Toll: An Entire Generation Lost
Among the dead:
- 53 UK nationals
- 12 Indian medical students
- Several Eid returnees from the Gulf
- A mother and child from Canada on holiday
- Entire families — some burned beyond recognition
One morgue worker said, off record:
“We had to rely on jewelry and tattoos… the smell still haunts us.”
Global Shockwaves & A Crumbling Reputation
- Boeing’s stock dropped 9% overnight, prompting emergency meetings in Chicago.
- UK & EU offered consular help and demanded “clarity from Indian aviation.”
- Legal suits are already being drafted across multiple jurisdictions.
- ₹1 crore per life lost is being discussed as compensation — but many families say no money can replace what was taken.
And Now, The Silence
With a government tight-lipped, and the black box still unrecovered, speculation grows:
- Was this sabotage?
- Was the pilot manipulated?
- Were there prior warnings?
- Why was the same plane reported for thrust fluctuation three weeks earlier?
A Ghost in the Sky
Flight AI‑171 has entered the dark annals of aviation not just as a crash, but as a mystery. A 38-second sequence that vaporized lives, erased futures, and left behind one lone survivor, a string of unanswered questions — and a nation demanding truth.
Sometimes, the truth doesn’t fall from the sky
