It all started as a routine flight from Ahmedabad to London but within seconds of takeoff, Air India Flight 171 plunged into disaster, leaving over 240 lives lost and the world in mourning. As investigators dig through black box data and eyewitness accounts, questions continue to swirl: Was this a tragic case of human error and mechanical failure, or was it something far deeper; perhaps even spiritual? A viral prophecy from Sri Lankan Pastor Jerome Fernando, warning of a devastating plane crash months prior, has reignited debate. Did he see this coming? Or are we simply grasping for meaning in the face of unimaginable loss? In this post, we break down the facts, the predictions, and the painful truths behind one of the most shocking aviation tragedies of 2025.
1. Flight Origins and Destination
While many might think the Air India Flight AI 171. incident took place in London, the journey was quite starting elsewhere. This Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner took off on June 12, 2025, from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, India, at 1:38pm and headed for London Gatwick. The flight was scheduled to make a nine-hour 50 minute non-stop journey to the London airport. It was that flight path, from a vibrant Indian city to a major UK hub, which sadly turned tragic just seconds after takeoff. The tragic sequence unfolded less than 30 seconds into the air, leaving a brief window that changed countless lives.
2. Who Was on Board
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This crash wasn’t just numbers, it was people, families, and lives suddenly cut short. The flight carried 242 souls: 230 passengers and 12 crew members, with nationalities spanning Indian, British, Portuguese, and Canadian backgrounds.
Tragically, 241 people perished from the crash but CNN has estimated that over 290 people have died as a result of the aircraft. But one man survived Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 42‑year‑old British national of Indian origin, who escaped by jumping from the jet and is now recovering.
Notable among the victims were entire families and individuals with deep community ties: healthcare workers, entrepreneurs, educators. Names like Dr Prateek Joshi and family, Akeel Nanabawa, Hannaa Vorajee, and Manisha Thapa, a beloved Air India cabin crew member, all who appeared in appeared in tributes.
3. What Really Went Wrong
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Barely 30 seconds into the journey, it stalled, lost altitude, and crashed into a hostel building at B. J. Medical According to a source, the plane began to pick up speed, increasing by around 11MPH on the runway. However, It had a sudden climb to 625ft and moving at around 200mph. Lt. Col. John R. Davidson, former U.S. Air Force Pilot and editor of Felons Assistance and commercial aviation safety consultant noted that, “To be at 625 feet at over 170 knots [196MPH] more than four minutes after rolling out is highly irregular… This suggests either a very late rotation or a stall shortly after takeoff.” Despite clear weather and no signs of a bird strike, early black box data pointed to severe issues, specifically around engine thrust and aircraft configuration. He further added that from the data gotten, the flight appears to have reached takeoff speed, but not altitude.
Milliseconds later, the pilots, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal (pilot) and Clive Kundar (Co-pilot) issued a mayday around that brief climb of 625ft mid air. Sky News added that Helicopter pilot Ṣeun Komolafe opined that, “The mayday call tells me that they were able to gather data in that short moment and realise that something wasn’t going quite right and they were able to communicate it to themselves, first of all, and also to air traffic control to let them know that there was an issue.” This is seconded by Prof. Graham Braithwaite, the director of aerospace and aviation at Cranfield University who said: “Take-off is a critical stage because the aircraft is still accelerating and any problem-solving requires a rapid response.”
The last signal from the plane was received at 08:08:51 when the plane’s transponder signal drops seconds after leaving the runway, according to Flightradar24. The civil authorities confirmed that controllers then made subsequent calls to the mayday but received no response.
Less than 60 seconds later – Plane hits BJ Medical College campus, just a few yards from the end of the runway. As at that time, the medical students at BJ Medical College campus are having a lunch break in the dining room when the plane smashes onto a part of the building.
Theories of what may have caused the deadly crash have been circulating, but none confirmed. Aviation analysts have zeroed in on a likely scenario: premature retraction of flaps, those essential lift-generating surfaces or possibly by the co-pilot instead of retracting the landing gear. With flaps gone too soon, the aircraft couldn’t gain enough lift, fell into an aerodynamic stall, and plummeted. Presently, India’s aviation regulator immediately grounded other Boeing 787 Dreamliners in the Air India fleet pending thorough inspections.
4. The Sri Lankan Pastor’s Chilling Warning
A Sri Lankan pastor, Jerome Fernando, shared warnings several months prior. First warning was reportedly given on November 26, 2024, during a sermon attended by Indian followers. Pastor Fernando said, “I begin to see something… your national carrier was flying within your country… and this was a threat mid-air… you will hear it… this is mid-air issue.” He followed up on April 24, 2025, just 49 days before the crash, urging caution when he repeated, “Avoid red aircraft bodies, because this is mid in the air…” air” A reference fans linked to Air India’s red‑liveried fleet. The video, shared by industrialist Harsh Goenka, sparked debate with over 300,000 views on social media, fueling speculation that the crash might have been foretold.
However, scrutiny from journalists and commentators like highlighted key inconsistencies. According to Dr Nilima Srivastava, criticised the claims, pointing out that Fernando was “factually incorrect” as he mentioned a “mid-air crash.” She wrote: “The crash happened at takeoff. In other words, the prophecy predicted a “mid‑air” incident, whereas the actual crash occurred during takeoff, mere seconds after ascent, not at cruising altitude; and there was no indication of a color‑specific universal threat. Critics also pointed out that recurring technical lapses and regulatory fines against Air India made such warnings less miraculous and more a reflection of known safety concerns. Taken together, the warnings appear to be dramatic coincidences amplified by hindsight, not precise prophecies tied to this exact disaster.
Pastor Jerome Fernando is the head of the Glorious Church in Sri Lanka and is tagged as a prophet of God. He is also known for his large followers including several Sri Lankan celebrities.
5. The Ripple Effect of the Tragedy
When the dust settles on an accident of this magnitude, what remains are hard-won lessons. One obvious takeaway? The critical importance of meticulous cockpit configuration during takeoff: engineer theories and pilot testimony pointed to premature flap retraction and gear deployment errors as key contributors. Beyond that, investigators are reviewing maintenance protocols, aircraft systems, pilot training, and air safety standards globally, all hoping to ensure no oversight goes unaddressed.
The Naija Lowdown Writer 