Tragedy in Ahmedabad: 14-Year-Old Akash Patni Killed When Plane Crashes Into Building Where He Worked

On June 12, 2025, a tragic aviation disaster struck the city of Ahmedabad, India, when Air India Flight AI-171 crashed shortly after takeoff. The crash claimed the lives of 241 people onboard — but also took innocent lives on the ground. Among them was 14-year-old Akash Patni, a teenager working part-time at a small family-run tea stall near the crash site.

He Wasn’t a Passenger — He Was Working When the Plane Hit

According to multiple eyewitness accounts and confirmed news reports, Akash was helping his mother, Sita Ben Patni, in their modest tea stall located next to a medical hostel complex. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, lost control and slammed into a portion of the building adjacent to where they were working.

A large piece of debris reportedly struck Akash directly, and he was quickly engulfed in flames. His mother sustained severe burns while desperately trying to save him and is currently being treated in a local hospital.

 

Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an

 

Ein Beitrag geteilt von USA TODAY (@usatoday)

A Family’s Worst Nightmare

Akash’s older brother, Kalpesh Patni, arrived at the hospital mortuary in tears to identify his younger brother’s body. Media outlets captured the heartbreaking moment as Kalpesh clutched family photos while awaiting confirmation of what had happened.

Their father was nearby at the time of the crash and rushed to the site, only to find the area already sealed off by emergency services.

The Crash and Ongoing Investigation

 

Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an

 

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Hindustan Times (@hindustantimes)

Air India Flight AI‑171 was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members on a scheduled flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. The aircraft crashed less than a minute after takeoff, impacting residential and hospital buildings in a densely populated part of the city.

Officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are investigating the incident. Early reports suggest a possible technical failure during takeoff, though the final cause is yet to be determined.

Recovery and identification of victims — both onboard and on the ground — remain a painful process. Many families, including the Patni family, are mourning irreplaceable losses.