A major aviation disaster struck India today as Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft was carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members.
The aircraft departed at 1:38 PM local time. Within seconds of takeoff, the pilots issued a “MAYDAY” distress call while the plane was at just 625 feet altitude. Moments later, contact with air traffic control was lost. The plane plummeted into the densely populated Meghaninagar area, causing a massive explosion and fire.
Eyewitnesses described the moment of impact as deafening. “We heard a loud blast and then saw flames shooting up near the BJ Medical College campus,” said local resident Priya Desai. The crash destroyed part of the hostel mess used by medical students, raising fears of additional casualties on the ground.
Emergency services responded within minutes. Five firefighting units and over a dozen ambulances reached the crash site. Operations at Ahmedabad Airport were temporarily suspended. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed and is actively conducting search-and-rescue operations.
Hospitals across the city have been placed on high alert, with several victims already admitted with burn injuries and trauma. Officials say casualty numbers are still being verified.
Air India confirmed the incident in a brief statement:
“Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad–London Gatwick, was involved in an accident on 12 June 2025. We are working closely with authorities and will provide updates as more information becomes available.”
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu expressed condolences to the victims and assured the public that a full-scale investigation is underway. He also confirmed that all aviation emergency protocols were activated immediately.
Among the 242 onboard were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian passenger. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was reportedly among the passengers, though his condition remains unconfirmed.
Eyewitness accounts from the crash site indicated multiple fatalities, with bodies and debris seen scattered across the area. Rescue workers have described a grim scene, made more complicated by the fire and structural damage.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a formal inquiry. The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder — commonly known as the black boxes — are being retrieved and will be crucial in understanding what caused the crash.
While technical malfunction is suspected, officials caution against speculation until full evidence is examined.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is widely regarded as one of the safest and most technologically advanced commercial aircraft. This makes the incident all the more shocking. The crash is India’s worst aviation accident since the 2020 Kozhikode Air India Express disaster.
Ahmedabad last witnessed a major crash in 1988 when Indian Airlines Flight 113 crashed during landing, killing 133 people.
Search and rescue efforts continue as families of passengers arrive at local hospitals and helplines. Air India has activated emergency support services for relatives of those onboard.
Officials say a preliminary investigation report will be shared in the coming days, but a full inquiry may take weeks or even months.
This tragic crash has sparked a renewed focus on aviation safety and emergency response efficiency in India, with public and media scrutiny mounting by the hour.
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