News & Current EventsHeartbreaking Final Selfie

Tragic Final Moments Before Air India Crash

A heartbreaking selfie taken moments before takeoff captures the final image of Dr. Komi Vyas, her husband Dr. Prateek Joshi, and their three children aboard the doomed Air India Flight 171. The family was relocating from Udaipur to London when their plane crashed just after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport, killing at least 241 people.

“They left for Ahmedabad yesterday to take the flight to London,” said Dr. Joshi’s cousin, Nayan. “Prateek had come here just two days ago to take his wife and children with him.”

Crash and Immediate Aftermath

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers, including 53 Britons, went down minutes after takeoff in the Meghani neighborhood. CCTV footage shows the aircraft lifting off, then rapidly descending before exploding into a fireball.

Survivor Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, said: “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly… When I got up, there were bodies all around me.”

Possible Causes Under Investigation

Experts suggest the aircraft may have lost power during takeoff, potentially due to a bird strike. Lt. Col. John R. Davidson noted, “Whatever happened, it happened fast, and right at the most critical phase of flight.” He added that flight data showed the plane reached speed but failed to gain proper altitude.

Captain Saurabh Bhatnagar observed, “The takeoff was perfect… the aircraft started descending, which can happen only if the engine loses power or the aircraft stops developing lift.”

Ongoing Inquiry

Investigators are examining the wreckage and black box to determine the cause. Preliminary data shows the plane barely reached 625 feet before issuing a mayday call.

“This aircraft never truly made it airborne in a meaningful way,” Davidson said.