An Air India passenger plane with 242 people on board crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, on 12 June 2025. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was en route to London Gatwick Airport when the accident occurred.
According to Air India, the flight AI171 departed from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at approximately 1.39 p.m. local time (0809 GMT). Within minutes, the aircraft issued a “Mayday” emergency call before all contact was lost.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that after the distress call, no further communication was received from the plane. The aircraft crashed into a civilian area near the airport perimeter, striking a doctors’ hostel.
Television broadcasts showed harrowing images of black smoke billowing into the sky and debris engulfed in flames.
Emergency teams moved swiftly, transporting injured passengers and residents to nearby hospitals. Stretchers and ambulances were seen ferrying victims away from the crash site.
A senior police officer reported that roughly 70% to 80% of the impacted area had been cleared as of Thursday evening, with full clearance efforts ongoing.
The crash site, located near dense residential buildings, raised concerns about potential casualties among both passengers and local residents.
The manifest included 217 adults and 11 children, with passengers comprising 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian, Air India disclosed.
India’s federal health minister stated that “many people” had been killed, though the exact number of fatalities has not yet been officially confirmed.
Rescue operations remain active as authorities continue their search through the wreckage.
Flight tracking service Flightradar24 reported that the aircraft lost signal just seconds after departure, having climbed to an altitude of only 625 feet before beginning a sharp descent at a vertical speed of -475 feet per minute.
Boeing confirmed awareness of the incident and stated it was gathering further information. Following news of the crash, Boeing’s share price fell 6.8% to US$199.13 in pre-market trading.
British authorities are coordinating with Indian officials to clarify the facts and provide assistance to affected citizens, according to a statement from the UK Foreign Office.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose home state is Gujarat, directed the civil aviation ministry to mobilise all available resources for rescue and relief efforts.
The Indian aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, expressed his devastation over the tragedy and assured that every effort was being made to support those impacted.
Ahmedabad airport authorities have suspended all flight operations indefinitely, urging passengers to verify flight statuses with their airlines before heading to the airport.
Gautam Adani, chairman of Adani Group, which operates the Ahmedabad airport, extended condolences via X, stating: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragedy of Air India Flight 171. Our hearts go out to the families who have suffered an unimaginable loss.”
The Tata Group, which acquired Air India in 2022 and merged it with Vistara in 2024, activated an emergency centre and support team to assist families seeking information.
Tata chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran affirmed that the company is providing full assistance to emergency response teams.
This is the deadliest air accident in India since 2020, when an Air India Express Boeing 737 crashed while landing at Kozhikode International Airport, killing 21 people.
Investigations are underway to determine the cause of Thursday’s crash, with multiple agencies collaborating to analyse flight data and cockpit recordings. Further updates are expected as authorities piece together the circumstances leading to the accident.
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