Ahmedabad: Heartbreaking and poignant stories are emerging from Thursday’s Air India crash in Ahmedabad.
More than seven hours after the horrible crash, which took place within minutes of the Dreamliner aircraft taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, there is news of just one survivor from among 242 people on board – which in itself is nothing short of a miracle.
British passenger Jamie Ray Meek was not so lucky.
He shared a video on Instagram just moments before boarding the ill-fated Air India Flight AI-171.
The video, which has now gone viral on social media, shows a smiling Jamie with his friend at Ahmedabad airport, saying goodbye to India.
“We are at the airport just boarding. Goodbye India on a 10-hour flight back to London,” Jamie says in the video, appearing upbeat.
As he chats with the other person, Jamie adds, “My biggest takeaway is to not lose your patience with your partner… Going back happily, happily, happily calm.”
🚨 Jamie Ray Meek, a British citizen listed as a passenger on Air India Flight 171, reportedly shared a final Instagram Story shortly before takeoff.
He appears on the official manifest under GBR 149261531. A video believed to be his last post.#India #Crash #Ahmedabad #Boeing… pic.twitter.com/KmSpz9iOi9
— the Pulse (@thePulseGlobal) June 12, 2025
Jamie was one of 53 British nationals on board the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. The identity of his ‘partner’ is not known.
The flight, which departed at 1.38 pm, crashed into a medical college hostel building minutes later and was reduced to an orange fireball. Among other foreign nationals on the flight were 7 Portuguese and 1 Canadian, besides 169 Indians, and 12 crew members.