Seconds after take off: What AI171 tragedy teaches us

 Lost lives in under a minute and what the rest of us can learn from it.

Picture from express.co.uk

On June 12, 2025, Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, departed from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick.  Within 30 seconds, it crashed into a residential hostel at B. J. Medical College.  Out of 242 on board, 241 lives perished along with several others on the ground.  Miraculously, there was a single sole survivor - a 40-year-old British-Indian man Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was seated at 11A near the emergency exit.  

Here are five (5) lessons we can learn from the tragedy:

1. Seat location and emergency awareness. 

Ramesh's survival is partly due to where he was seated, next to a broken exit that did not hinder him in.  His quick reaction during the tragedy by jumping out of the plane away from the crash only shows the knowledge and awareness of evacuation routes and calm instinct can save lives.

2.  Life itself is a miracle.

As they always say, "life is too short".  Don't procrastinate the I love you and I'm sorry.  Be always kind to everyone you meet.  We may never know, it's their last, or yours.

3.  Truth and tenderness.

When tragedy strikes, truth and tenderness must go together.   Truth as to what happened and find who is accountable.  However, compassion is needed in the healing of both the victims and those who are responsible for the accident.

4. Document to tell stories.

Each single passenger had stories to tell.   Preserving every moment in your own life with pictures, words, rituals, social media post, etc.  These memories will be preserved for the future generations.

5.  Gratitude.

When I first traveled by plane to Saudi Arabia, every time we reached our destination on landing, the passengers would give a loud clap and shouts of thank you.  Be thankful in everything that happened to you, even if it is an accident.  Thankfulness transforms trauma into testament.

The Air India AI171 tragedy is a reminder for all of us.  This reminds us to always listen to safety instructions before flight (which we always neglect), prepare better, act faster and to cherish life with deeper care.

Condolences to everyone affected.

Sandy Hook School Tragedy

I was in tears as I watch President Barrack Obama give his speech and condolence to the people of Connecticut after 20 children and 6 adults were gunned down at close range in Sandy Hook Elementary School on 14 December 2012.  He addressed the whole United States in an emotional speech sending condolences to Governor Malloy and the families of those who died in the killing.  He said, “I know there’s not a parent in America who doesn’t feel the same overwhelming grief that I do. The majority of those who died today were children, beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old.”  Pausing to compose himself, he continued, “They had their entire lives ahead of them. Birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own.”  As i watched the president gives his speech, i cannot help crying while thinking of my own son back home in the Philippines, while thinking of how the parents of these children who died would have felt when they heard the news, and what were the reactions of the children who were left alive, what trauma would they suffer in the future. 

Most of us, especially parents, have been heartbroken by this tragic incidence.  The only thing we can do to help is say a prayer for those who died and for their families.  We still believe in a faithful God who has the best plan for all of us.  Let us take this time and moment to utter a short prayer for the Sandy Hook tragedy victims.  

Father in heaven, we give you all our sorrows at the moment especially the sorrows of the families of the Sandy Hook tragedy.

In Jesus' name we ask that you heal them Oh Lord God.

And through the Holy Spirit, cover them all with the warmth of your love.

Our mother Mary, be their comfort and help the bereaved families face this tragedy just like how you faced your sorrows when Jesus was suffering on the cross.

Amen.