AHMEDABAD, India (BN24) — Air India confirmed Thursday that 241 people were killed when Flight 171 crashed shortly after takeoff in the northwestern Indian city of Ahmedabad, leaving only one known survivor—a British national of Indian origin.
This photo shared by India’s Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) shows debris of a plane that crashed in the northwestern Indian city of Ahmedabad, in Gujarat state, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (CISF via AP)
In a statement released by the airline, officials said the 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner departed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 p.m. local time, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport. The aircraft was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members when it plunged into a student hostel near B.J. Medical College and Civil Hospital moments after departure.
“We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities,” Air India said. “The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital. Air India offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased.”
The lone survivor has been identified as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national who was traveling with his brother. He was seen bloodied and limping away from the wreckage, according to visuals shared by emergency services and confirmed by local authorities.
In the United Kingdom, family members told Sky News that Vishwash called his father from India just before the flight departed—and again shortly after the crash.
“He called dad again after the plane crashed,” his brother, Nayan Kumar Ramesh, told Sky News. “He said he couldn’t find my other brother, Ajay. He said, ‘I don’t know how I’m alive, how I exited the plane. I don’t see any other passengers.’”
A flight manifest obtained by NBC News listed Ajay Kumar Ramesh as occupying seat 11J. The family said they have received no word on his condition and fear the worst.
“This is a miracle that Vishwash survived,” Nayan added. “But what other miracle is there for my other brother?”
Air India said a team of caregivers has been dispatched to Ahmedabad to assist grieving families. The airline pledged full cooperation with Indian and international investigators looking into the cause of the crash.
The disaster marks the deadliest aviation tragedy in India in over a decade and the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network.
BOSTON (BN24) — A JetBlue flight arriving at Boston Logan International Airport veered off the runway and into a grassy area on Thursday afternoon, prompting a ground stop and emergency response but leaving all passengers uninjured, officials said.
JetBlue Flight 312, an Airbus A220 arriving from Chicago, landed around midday when it unexpectedly rolled off the runway and came to a stop on the grass, according to a statement from the Massachusetts Port Authority.
“JetBlue flight 312 from Chicago to Boston veered off the runway and onto the grass after landing,” the airline confirmed in an email. “We will conduct a full investigation of the incident and will work closely with the relevant authorities to understand the cause.”
Passengers were safely evacuated using mobile staircases provided by emergency responders and transported by bus to the terminal. Photos and video from the scene showed dozens of emergency personnel surrounding the aircraft as the disembarkation unfolded.
The runway remained closed for several hours following the incident while crews inspected the aircraft and airport operations. A temporary ground stop was also issued for inbound flights, airport officials confirmed.
The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation to determine what led to the runway excursion. No mechanical issues or weather-related causes have yet been disclosed.
The incident adds to a growing list of recent aviation safety concerns in the United States. Just hours earlier, an Air India flight bound for London crashed after takeoff in Ahmedabad, killing more than 240 people in one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent memory.
Thursday’s runway incident in Boston comes as the FAA faces increased scrutiny over its oversight of air travel safety. A recent poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicated declining public confidence in the safety of flying.
NEW YORK (BN24) — A 20-year-old father has been charged with the murder of his 2-year-old son, Montrell Williams, after surveillance video allegedly captured him throwing the child into the Bronx River, New York City police said Thursday.
Arius Williams was arrested and formally charged with two counts each of murder and manslaughter. The child was reported missing on May 10, and investigators now believe the boy was killed later that same evening.
According to law enforcement sources, video footage reviewed by detectives shows Williams lifting the toddler and hurling him into the river. The chilling act is believed to have occurred the night Montrell was last seen.
On Wednesday afternoon, a child’s body—believed to be Montrell’s—was discovered along the shoreline near the Whitestone Bridge by Ferry Point Park in Queens. Sources said the body, badly decomposed, was wrapped in a blanket and dressed in a diaper with a single sock remaining on one foot. Official identification is pending.
Montrell’s disappearance followed a contentious family dispute. Sources said Williams had attended a Mother’s Day gathering on May 10 with Montrell, during which he reportedly clashed with his own father before leaving with the child.
In the following days, Montrell’s 17-year-old mother contacted police, concerned about her son’s safety. However, officers reportedly informed her that they were unable to act because the child was with his father during a scheduled custody visit.
On Sunday, the situation escalated further when the parents encountered each other on the street. Williams allegedly brandished a knife and claimed he had thrown Montrell from the Bruckner Bridge, according to sources familiar with the case.
Williams was initially arrested Monday on charges of custodial interference after refusing to disclose the child’s whereabouts during a family court hearing. The murder and manslaughter charges were filed following the discovery of the body and further investigation.
The case has sparked renewed scrutiny of custody enforcement procedures and child welfare protocols.
AHMEDABAD, India (BN24) — One person has been confirmed dead, at least seven are missing, and more than 50 people have been hospitalized after Air India Flight 171 crashed into a hostel building at B.J. Medical College and Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787 en route to London Gatwick, went down shortly after takeoff, slamming into the hostel that houses students enrolled in the college’s Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program, as well as relatives of resident doctors.
The Federation of All Indian Medical Associations (FAIMA) reported on X that the deceased is the wife of a doctor affiliated with the institution. Among the injured are over 50 students, all of whom were admitted to the hospital and are currently in stable condition, according to the organization.
At least two or three students remain in intensive or high-dependency care units, while several others are unaccounted for. FAIMA stated that four to five students are still missing, along with three to four relatives of medical staff residing in the hostel at the time of the crash.
The organization also shared images of the devastation at the site, showing large sections of the building reduced to rubble and emergency crews working amid debris and twisted metal.
The crash has sent shockwaves through India’s medical and aviation communities, triggering calls for increased safety measures around urban airports and high-density areas.
Authorities have yet to release a definitive cause for the crash. The incident is under investigation by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and rescue operations at the hostel site are ongoing.
PUYALLUP, Wash. (BN24) — Kenyan middle-distance runner Eliud Kipsang, a former collegiate standout in the United States, has died at age 28 after suffering cardiac arrest, officials and supporters confirmed Tuesday.
Kipsang passed away at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Washington, where he had been receiving intensive care following the medical emergency on Friday, June 6. His death was confirmed through a statement posted to a fundraising campaign established to support funeral and repatriation costs.
“Despite the tireless efforts of doctors and nurses, he tragically passed away on Tuesday, June 10th, 2025,” read the post.
A celebrated athlete in the U.S. collegiate track circuit, Kipsang made headlines in 2022 when he set a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) record in the 1500 meters. He clocked 3 minutes, 33.74 seconds at the Bryan Clay Invitational, a time that held as the fastest in NCAA history until earlier this year when it was surpassed by Villanova’s Liam Murphy.
Kipsang competed for the University of Alabama, where he achieved multiple honors. In 2021, he finished as runner-up in the NCAA Division I indoor mile and won the NCAA East Region title in the 1500 meters. He also placed fourth in the same event at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships, underscoring his consistency at the elite collegiate level.
Tributes have poured in from across the athletics community in Kenya and the United States, where he had lived and trained in recent years. Known for his speed, humility, and relentless work ethic, Kipsang was widely considered a rising star in middle-distance running.
The cause of the cardiac arrest remains unclear. Organizers of the GoFundMe campaign noted that proceeds will assist with transporting his remains to Kenya and covering associated expenses for his family.
Kipsang’s death comes as a significant loss to both Kenyan athletics and the U.S. collegiate sports community, where he had left an enduring mark through his achievements and character.
LOS ANGELES (BN24) — A bizarre audio message from Sean “Diddy” Combs, in which he refers to his ex-girlfriend as his “crackpipe,” was played aloud in a Los Angeles courtroom Tuesday, drawing public attention as testimony continued in the music mogul’s high-profile civil trial.
The recording, submitted as evidence during the cross-examination of the woman testifying under the pseudonym “Jane,” was part of an effort by Combs’ legal team to challenge her claims of abuse and coercion. The audio, reportedly from a 2023 getaway to Turks and Caicos, captures Combs speaking affectionately and candidly.
“You are the crackpipe,” Combs says in the message, laughing as he offers the term as a nickname. “That’s my new name for you: crackpipe. Or should I call you CP?” he continues before reminiscing about their time together and urging her to “stay in the light” and get rest.
The court-approved playback of the message marked a notable moment in the sixth day of testimony from Jane, who dated Combs from 2021 to 2024 and is testifying under a pseudonym due to the sensitive nature of the allegations.
Jane previously testified that Combs called her “crackpipe” because of his alleged obsessive and controlling behavior during their relationship. Her account has been central to the civil lawsuit alleging sexual abuse, human trafficking, and emotional manipulation. Combs denies the claims.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, defense attorney Teny Geragos used the recording to argue that the relationship was consensual and emotionally complex, not predatory. Geragos suggested that Jane’s influence over Combs included her ability to manipulate situations by offering or withholding sex. The line of questioning appeared aimed at portraying Jane as an active, willing participant rather than a coerced victim.
Jane has continued her testimony for nearly a week, recounting incidents she says demonstrate a pattern of manipulation and control by Combs over the course of their three-year relationship. The trial has drawn intense media coverage, particularly as it follows multiple lawsuits recently filed against Combs alleging misconduct spanning years.
Combs’ team has repeatedly denied all accusations, calling them false and defamatory. The civil case remains ongoing, with further testimony and evidentiary review expected in the coming days.
BRASÍLIA (BN24) — Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court has reached a majority decision to make social media companies legally responsible for user-generated content, in a precedent-setting ruling that could reshape digital policy across Latin America and strain relations with the United States.
With Justice Gilmar Mendes casting the decisive sixth vote on Wednesday, a majority of the 11-member court now supports holding platforms such as Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and Microsoft accountable for illegal content posted by their users. While voting continues, the simple majority already secured guarantees the legal shift, pending final publication of the decision.
The ruling marks a fundamental shift from Brazil’s current legal framework, which limits platform liability to situations in which companies fail to remove content after receiving a court order. Under the new interpretation, companies may now face lawsuits and fines even before judicial directives are issued.
Justice Mendes’ vote followed mounting concerns over harmful online content, including increasing incidents of fraud, the circulation of child pornography, and social media posts linked to school violence. The Court had consolidated two cases for judgment to establish a broad precedent on regulating social media liability.
Justice Flávio Dino, the first to vote Wednesday, cited the role of social media in encouraging recent school shootings. He read from a post by a user who celebrated the grief of families affected by such attacks. “I think social media has not brought us closer to the best aspects of humanity,” he said.
Only one justice, André Mendonça, has publicly dissented thus far. In his previously released opinion, Mendonça emphasized the importance of digital free expression as a tool for holding public and private power to account. He cautioned that holding platforms liable for third-party content could lead to excessive censorship and stifle democratic discourse.
The ruling arrives as digital regulation increasingly becomes a flashpoint in U.S.-Brazil relations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently warned of potential visa sanctions against foreign officials accused of infringing on the free speech rights of American citizens. One of the figures reportedly under scrutiny is Brazilian Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has led crackdowns on platforms accused of failing to comply with Brazilian legal directives.
The broader implications of the decision remain uncertain. Although it would effectively become binding once the full ruling is published, Brazil’s National Congress retains the authority to pass new legislation that could override the court’s interpretation.
Alvaro Palma de Jorge, a law professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, defended the court’s proactive stance. “Platforms need to adopt precautions that go beyond simply waiting for a judge to act,” he said. “The current model is no longer adequate given the scope and scale of online harm.”
The decision aligns Brazil more closely with the European Union’s regulatory approach, which increasingly compels tech companies to monitor and manage content actively. However, critics warn the policy could have unintended consequences for freedom of speech and market competition.
The Brazilian Chamber of Digital Economy, an advocacy group for technology companies, issued a statement opposing the decision. “This type of liability favors large, multinational platforms with extensive legal resources, to the detriment of smaller domestic companies,” the group said, arguing that the ruling would “erect barriers to innovation and increase the risk of preemptive censorship.”
The debate over platform regulation has intensified in Brazil since the January 8, 2023 insurrection, when supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the Congress, the presidential palace, and the Supreme Court in Brasília. That riot, partially organized and incited on social media platforms, galvanized public and judicial scrutiny over the role of digital companies in fostering political instability and violence.
Final implementation of the court’s decision depends on the full publication of its ruling, after which companies could begin facing civil liability for unlawful user content. The legislature may still intervene with statutory changes to alter the impact of the ruling, though the timeline for such action remains unclear.
As Brazil takes a leading role in Latin America’s push for digital accountability, the Supreme Court’s decision signals a shift toward increased regulatory scrutiny of tech giants — with global implications for how democratic societies balance freedom of expression and online safety.
AHMEDABAD, India (BN24) — A British-Indian man who survived the devastating Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad has described the chaos and carnage following the aircraft’s impact, as authorities confirmed he was the lone known survivor in a tragedy that claimed numerous lives.
According to NDTV, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, was identified by local police as the only survivor from the Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday. The flight was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport with 244 people onboard.
Ramesh, who has lived in London for the past 20 years, told The Hindustan Times that approximately 30 seconds after takeoff, he heard a loud explosion. “It all happened so quickly,” he said from a hospital bed. “When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me.”
The survivor said he suffered multiple injuries to his chest, eyes and feet. He was reportedly seated apart from his brother Ajay Kumar Ramesh, whose condition remains unconfirmed.
Video circulating on social media appears to show a man limping away from the wreckage and being assisted by emergency personnel near the Meghani Nagar crash site. Authorities have not confirmed the identities of other victims.
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Sanjay Srivastava said Ramesh was found conscious amid the debris and rushed to a local hospital. His account provides the first eyewitness narrative from within the doomed flight, which crashed into a residential neighborhood just five minutes after takeoff.
This photo shared by India’s Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) shows debris of a plane that crashed in the northwestern Indian city of Ahmedabad, in Gujarat state, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (CISF via AP)
In a video statement released Thursday evening, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson expressed “deep sorrow” over the incident and pledged full support for victims and their families. “This is a difficult day for all of us at Air India,” he said. “Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, their families, and loved ones.”
Wilson confirmed that injured passengers — including the sole survivor — had been transported by emergency responders to nearby hospitals. “Investigations will take time, but anything we can do now, we are doing,” he added.
The crash of Flight AI171 marks the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and triggered a massive emergency response from India’s civil aviation and disaster relief agencies. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and other national and international authorities.
PHILADELPHIA (BN24) — A United States court sentenced a 25-year-old Nigerian man to five years imprisonment Tuesday for his role in a sextortion conspiracy that resulted in a teenager’s death, marking a significant prosecution in international cybercrime enforcement.
Samuel Abiodun received the sentence from US District Judge Joel Slomsky in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania after pleading guilty to money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud charges related to the fatal sexual extortion case involving a young victim.
US Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced the sentencing Wednesday, revealing that Abiodun operated alongside accomplices in the deadly scheme that targeted vulnerable teenagers through online platforms.
Abiodun was arrested in Nigeria by the FBI and extradited to the United States in July 2024, along with co-conspirator Afeez Aina. Following their extradition, both men faced charges in August 2024 for their participation in the international sextortion operation.
The court proceedings revealed that Abiodun functioned as the financial middleman in the conspiracy, processing money obtained through the extortion scheme. His co-defendant Aina pleaded guilty in May 2025 to multiple charges including cyberstalking, interstate threat to injure reputation, receiving proceeds of extortion, money laundering conspiracy, and wire fraud.
Aina faces sentencing on August 11 and could receive a statutory maximum of lifetime imprisonment for his crimes. A third accomplice, Afeez Adewale, remains in Nigeria pending extradition and has been charged in absentia with money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud.
Metcalf characterized Abiodun’s role as crucial to the operation’s success, stating that “as the financial middleman, Abiodun played a key role in this sextortion scheme, which thoroughly traumatized the victim and then devastated his family.”
The prosecutor emphasized the devastating impact of such crimes on victims and their families, noting that the scammers showed “absolutely no regard for their feelings or the potential fallout” while pursuing financial gain from scared and vulnerable young people.
“These scammers’ sole aim is to get money from scared and vulnerable young people, with absolutely no regard for their feelings or the potential fallout,” Metcalf explained. “In prosecuting this case, we are bringing to justice the men whose actions resulted in truly indelible harm.”
The case represents part of broader US Department of Justice efforts to combat international cybercrime targeting American citizens. Metcalf issued a warning to other potential perpetrators, stating that “the Department of Justice’s reach is long, and if they keep extorting innocent Americans, they could find themselves in an American prison.”
The successful prosecution required extensive cooperation between US and Nigerian authorities. Metcalf acknowledged the essential support provided by Nigerian security agencies in facilitating the extradition process.
“The support and assistance of Nigerian security authorities was essential to this effort, notably that of Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Justice’s International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,” Metcalf stated.
The case highlights the growing international cooperation in prosecuting cybercriminals who operate across borders to target victims in different countries. Sextortion schemes typically involve criminals obtaining compromising images or videos of victims and then threatening to distribute the material unless payment is made.
The tragic outcome of this particular scheme, resulting in a teenager’s death, underscores the severe psychological impact such crimes can have on young victims. Law enforcement agencies continue emphasizing the importance of reporting such incidents and seeking help rather than complying with extortion demands.
The sentencing represents a significant milestone in US efforts to hold international cybercriminals accountable for crimes that cause severe harm to American victims, particularly vulnerable teenagers targeted through social media and online platforms.
AHMEDABAD, India (BN24) — Air India confirmed Thursday that passengers aboard its London-bound flight that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport included citizens from India, Britain, Portugal and Canada, marking the first-ever crash of a Boeing 787 aircraft.
**EDS: VIDEO GRAB**Ahmedabad: Smoke billows after a plane crashed near Ahmedabad airport, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (PTI Photo)(PTI06_12_2025_000070A)
The airline reported the flight was carrying 242 passengers and crew members overall, though Indian officials had previously stated 244 people were aboard the aircraft. Air India specified that among those on the flight were 169 Indians, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian passenger.
Local television channels broadcast footage showing smoke billowing from the crash site near the airport in Ahmedabad, a northwestern Indian city with a population exceeding 5 million residents.
Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, director general of the directorate of civil aviation, told The Associated Press that Air India flight AI 171, operating a Boeing 787-8 aircraft, crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar approximately five minutes after departing at 1:38 p.m. local time.
The flight carried 232 passengers and 12 crew members and had been scheduled to arrive at London’s Gatwick Airport, according to Kidwai’s statement. Gatwick Airport confirmed on social media platform X that the flight, originally due to arrive at 6:25 p.m. London time, had crashed during departure from Ahmedabad.
India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu posted on X that rescue teams had been mobilized with all efforts focused on ensuring medical aid and relief support reached the crash site.
“We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation,” the minister stated in his social media post.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner involved in the crash represents a widebody, twin-engine aircraft design. According to the Aviation Safety Network database, this incident marks the first crash in the operational history of Boeing 787 aircraft.
Boeing introduced the 787 Dreamliner in 2009, and more than 1,000 units have been delivered to dozens of airlines worldwide, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24.
Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran emphasized that the airline’s immediate priority centered on supporting affected individuals and their families. He announced on X that Air India had established an emergency center and dedicated support team to assist families seeking information about flight passengers.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event,” Chandrasekaran stated in his message.
The crash represents a significant aviation incident for Air India and the broader aviation industry, given the 787’s previously unblemished safety record since entering commercial service. The international composition of passengers aboard the flight underscores the global nature of the tragedy, affecting families across multiple countries.
Emergency response teams continue working at the crash site in the Meghani Nagar residential area, where the aircraft came down minutes after takeoff. The proximity of the crash site to populated areas raises additional concerns about potential ground casualties and property damage.
Air India’s London route represents one of the carrier’s key international connections, serving significant Indian diaspora populations in the United Kingdom as well as business and leisure travelers between the two countries. The airline’s emergency response protocols have been activated to manage the crisis and provide support to affected families.
The Aviation Safety Network’s confirmation that this represents the first Boeing 787 crash will likely prompt intensive investigation by aviation authorities to determine the cause of the accident. The 787 Dreamliner’s safety record had been considered exemplary throughout its operational history spanning more than a decade.
Rescue operations continue at the crash site as authorities work to account for all passengers and crew members aboard the flight, while emergency services coordinate medical response efforts for any survivors.
