Key facts
- A first responder to the AI-171 plane crash in Ahmedabad expressed regret over the inability to save more lives.
- The crash, which occurred on June 12, 2025, resulted in 260 fatalities.
- The first responder, Satinder Singh Sandhu, described the scene as horrifying with raging fires and injured individuals.
- Sandhu helped rescue Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, identified as the sole survivor.
- Emergency services deployed 35 ambulances, and rescue operations continued for a week.
A year after the devastating AI-171 plane crash in Ahmedabad, first responder Satinder Singh Sandhu shared his enduring memories and regrets. The crash, which occurred on June 12, 2025, claimed 260 lives, including 241 on board the Air India flight and 19 on the ground.
Sandhu, a supervisor with 108 Emergency Services, was stationed near the crash site and heard the explosion at 1:31 pm. He immediately rushed to the scene, initially believing it was a bomb blast, and began coordinating rescue efforts. His team deployed 35 ambulances, transporting approximately 70 injured individuals to the civil hospital in the initial hours. Sandhu worked through the night until 4:30 am the following morning, and his team continued recovering bodies and body parts for the next week.
He recounted the horrifying scenes of fire, burnt flesh, and aviation fuel, noting that the memories still resurface when he passes the area. Sandhu also recalled helping Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, who later became known as the sole survivor of the crash. Despite the immense efforts, Sandhu's primary regret remains the inability to save more lives.