Story by Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

Published: June 12, 2025

AHMEDABAD, INDIA – A London-bound Air India flight carrying 242 people crashed moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport in western India early Wednesday morning. The crash killed 241 people and left behind a single, severely injured survivor — a British national. The aircraft reportedly experienced a catastrophic failure less than a minute into its ascent, plunging into a populated area just outside the city.

The scale of the devastation has been described by BBC reporters on the scene as “apocalyptic,” with both passengers and residents on the ground among the dead. The cause of the crash is under investigation, but Indian aviation officials confirmed that rescue operations have concluded, and one of two flight data recorders had been recovered.

As the world reels from the scale of the disaster, governments across the globe are responding with condolences and offers of support. Among them, The Bahamas has joined the international chorus of grief and solidarity.

Fred Mitchell, The Bahamas’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, issued a statement Wednesday afternoon:                                                                                                                                                                                                           “The Government and people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas extend deepest condolences to the Government of the Republic of India, the families of those aboard the Air India flight that crashed near Ahmedabad on 12th June, and all affected communities.                                                                                                                                                                                        We are saddened by the tragic loss of life, including both passengers and residents on the ground, as rescue and recovery efforts continue.

We stand in solidarity with India and join voices worldwide in offering support during this time of grief.”

He added:

“The Bahamas commends the swift and coordinated efforts of Indian emergency services and international responders. May those who perished rest in peace, and may those who survive recover fully.”

The lone survivor of the crash has been identified by BBC News as Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian descent. He is currently being treated in hospital after being pulled from the wreckage.

Speaking with BBC reporters from his hospital bed, Ramesh shared a chilling description of the moment disaster struck:

“Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise… it all happened so quickly,” he said.

“I don’t know how I survived. Everything went dark.”

Ramesh has since been visited by India’s Minister of Home Affairs. His family in Leicester, UK, is being supported by British consular staff.

Air India has confirmed that it is cooperating fully with the investigation. In a statement, the airline said:

“Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected, their families and loved ones.”

The passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian. Dozens of victims have been identified, and grief-stricken relatives have begun arriving in Ahmedabad.

The Bahamas’ expression of sympathy marks the Caribbean nation’s formal recognition of the tragedy and its global significance. As the lone survivor begins to recover, the world looks to investigators for answers on what went so horribly wrong just seconds after takeoff.

FAO presents a technical report that, for the first time, documents the regional impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in Latin America and the Caribbean following its introduction in 2022.

Since 1997, the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus strain H5N1 has caused significant outbreaks in domestic and wild birds across Asia, Europe, and Africa, with serious consequences for public health, biodiversity, and local economies.

In October 2022, this strain entered Latin America for the first time, marking a turning point for the region. The rapid spread of the virus and the emergence of new outbreaks in multiple countries revealed an unprecedented scenario, with cases not only in birds but also in marine mammals, domestic animals, and even in humans who had direct contact with infected animals.

Poultry production is a key pillar in Latin America and the Caribbean, both for food security and as a source of livelihood for millions of

small- and medium-scale producers. The expansion of HPAI has posed risks not only to the regional economy but also to the availability of animal-source protein and the biodiversity of ecosystems. Against this backdrop, reinforcing regional cooperation and strengthening technical capacities to prevent and control the virus have become urgent priorities.

The report Emergency and response to highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean: Regional technical report for the period October 2022 to September 2024, published by FAO, documents the health emergency triggered by the emergence and spread of HPAI H5N1 in countries across Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.

Detection and spread of the virus in Latin America and the Caribbean

Low pathogenicity:

The first records of avian influenza virus in South America date back to 2001, when a low pathogenicity strain was detected in wild waterfowl in Bolivia. In Colombia, the virus was first identified in broiler chickens in 2005. Between 2009 and 2012, Peru reported seven different subtypes, five of which had never been recorded elsewhere in Latin America.

In Central America, the first isolations of low pathogenicity virus in domestic poultry were reported in Guatemala and El Salvador in 2000 and 2001. In addition, several virus subtypes were identified in ducks in Guatemala between 2007 and 2013.

High pathogenicity:

One of the first major outbreaks of HPAI in South America occurred in Chile in 2002, caused by the H7N3 virus.

Since October 2022, Brazil, Chile, and Peru have reported the highest number of HPAI H5N1 cases in wild birds and animals in the Southern Cone. Among domestic birds, Argentina and Peru led in the number of outbreaks detected. In contrast, Central American and Caribbean countries reported fewer cases, which were sporadic and short-lived, both in wild and domestic birds.

These continental experiences confirmed the circulation of different virus lineages among wild birds in South America, suggesting a divergent evolution of these viruses in the hemisphere.

How to respond to an avian influenza emergency?

In response to the regional health challenge, in 2023, FAO approved a Technical Cooperation Programme and activated the Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities to support HPAI response efforts in 11 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Honduras, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. In parallel, national projects with similar objectives were implemented in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and El Salvador.

These programmes aimed to enhance countries’ capacity to manage and respond to the emergency by strengthening veterinary services, providing essential supplies, and supporting resource mobilization.

To achieve this, FAO supported actions focused on early detection, sanitary culling of animals, strengthening biosecurity, zonification, and provided technical advice on vaccination as a complementary tool to traditional control measures. Before the emergency, most countries in the region had not implemented vaccination against avian influenza—except for countries like the Dominican Republic and Guatemala. However, in 2023, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay decided to include vaccination in their outbreak control strategies, complementing it with surveillance and biosecurity measures.

FAO recommends establishing an interdisciplinary group under the One Health approach, bringing together multiple public and private stakeholders to guide vaccination decisions. In addition, it is advised to define risk scenarios and make vaccination decisions during “peace times,” rather than in the midst of an outbreak, when risk perceptions can be altered.

The report highlights the importance of public–private collaboration in addressing the health crisis. In each country, poultry and egg producer associations (members of the Latin American Poultry Association) provided technical and operational support during the emergency. At the same time, specialized academic groups from various universities contributed to training activities, supported the design of sanitary strategies, and participated in applied research.

Lessons learned from the avian influenza crisis

The avian influenza crisis exposed the fact that some countries in the region lacked experience, appropriate protocols, and trained personnel to address a health emergency of this scale. This was reflected in the lack of harmonization or standardization of epidemiological records across the region, resulting in varying country responses, which could hinder future planning of prevention and control strategies.

Moreover, the impact on the general population was evident, as the high mortality of wild birds and mammals along coasts and wetlands caused alarm among residents and tourists, who reported these findings to authorities. In such situations, it is essential to collect samples, identify species, conduct epidemiological characterization, and manage health risks—remembering that sick or dead birds should not be handled, and any sightings must be reported immediately to the official veterinary services.

This health emergency illustrated the complex epidemiology of HPAI, characterized by its significant economic impact and threats to biodiversity and domestic animals. It also highlighted the need for greater preparedness to respond to large-scale and complex health emergencies—especially in critical areas such as the culling of caged laying hens, wildlife management, and control zone administration.

Finally, the report emphasizes the importance of public–private coordination, inter-institutional cooperation, and international collaboration. It recommends designing emergency vaccination plans, defining responsibilities in response to findings in wildlife, establishing protocols for exposed persons, and developing compensation mechanisms—especially for small-scale producers.

These experiences reaffirm the need for strong animal health systems, effective regional cooperation, and sustained strategies under the One Health approach as key pillars for addressing future zoonotic threats.

Read the publication here: https://doi.org/10.4060/cd4707es

 More info:

FAO alert on avian influenza – Risk of upsurge and regional spread through wild birds in Latin America and the Caribbean

Recommendations for the surveillance of influenza A(H5N1) in cattle – With broader application to other farmed mammals

HEADER: Grenada – A government official inspects a chicken during a visit to a beneficiary of FAO’s poultry project. © FAO/Giuseppe Bizzarri

1. Mexico – Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Mexico. A brown pelican flies over the mangroves of this biodiversity refuge on the Yucatán coast. © FAO/Luis Antonio Rojas
2. Guatemala – Poultry and egg producer supplying public schools that receive state funding for school feeding. © Pep Bonet/NOOR for FAO
3. Bolivia – Chickens being weighed in the shed at Maleriada farm. © FAO/Sue Price
4. Nicaragua – A hen and her chicks rest on a rock. © FAO/Saul Palma

PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENT AND COASTAL RESOURCES

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Thursday, 5 June 2025: The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) is pleased to invite members of the public to participate in a Free-Swimming Lessons event in honor of World Oceans Day.

The event will be held at The Bight Park on Saturday, 7th June 2025, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, under the theme “Connecting People with Nature.”

This initiative aims to promote ocean awareness, water safety, and environmental stewardship while helping members of the community build confidence in the water. The DECR is offering this opportunity to a maximum of 20 participants of various ages.

The swim lessons will be led by experienced instructors Ben Stubenberg, Morgan Luker, and Bennett Williams, who have generously volunteered their time and expertise for this community initiative.

Registration is required and can be completed through the Google Forms link provided on the official event flyer. Pre-registered participants will be given priority. Should space remain available on the day of the event, walk-in participants may be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.

The DECR encourages everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to Connect With Nature, build essential swimming skills, and celebrate our shared responsibility for protecting the marine environment.

For more information, please contact the DECR at environment@gov.tc or 16493384161.