Tragedy through the Lens: Teen Captures Air India Crash Video

The teenage filmmaker, Aryan Asari, towers at the center of an aviation tragedy while grappling with the psychological aftermath of the event.

Aryan Asari, a 17-year-old from Ahmedabad, has found himself thrust into the spotlight after capturing footage of an Air India Dreamliner crashing shortly after takeoff, resulting in the loss of 241 lives on board. This devastating incident has not only left a significant mark on Aryan, who had always been an aviation enthusiast, but it has also led to an overwhelming influx of media attention aimed at him and his family.

Last Thursday, Aryan was on the terrace of his father Maganbhai Asari’s home, where he often filmed planes soaring above. “I saw the plane. It was going down and down. Then it wobbled and crashed right before my eyes," he recounted in a BBC interview. The chilling moment was recorded on his phone and has become a crucial piece of evidence for crash investigators.

The shocking reality of witnessing a crash reverberated deeply within Aryan, who now feels immense trauma from the experience. “My son is so scared that he has stopped using his phone,” shared Maganbhai, a retired army veteran. Aryan's interest in planes had been innocent; visiting his father in Ahmedabad was meant to be an adventure, yet it turned tragic on his first outing.

Last week, he had traveled to Ahmedabad with his sister, who was preparing for a police entrance exam. On the fateful day, after having lunch with his father, Aryan stepped onto the terrace to film the planes, oblivious to the danger that lurked. When he realized the Air India plane was in distress, it became too late. Thick smoke and flames marked the site of devastation in the residential area of Meghaninagar.

Aryan quickly reached out to his father, frantic with fear, “I saw it crash,” he said. His father urged him to stay calm but later instructed Aryan not to share the video, though Aryan inadvertently sent it to some friends. Within hours, the footage spread widely, capturing the attention of news outlets seeking to understand the tragedy.

As the days passed, reporters and onlookers flooded the Asari household, adding to Aryan's distress. Although local authorities interviewed him for insight into the live-streaming evidence, Aryan’s mental state worsened, prompting his family to send him back to their village for solace.

Back home, Aryan is trying to resume his studies but remains deeply affected. “Every time his phone rings, he gets scared,” Maganbhai reported. Despite the trauma, he remains hopeful that, in time, Aryan will heal, even as the skies above invoke a sense of unshakeable dread.