Air India Flight Crashes Near Ahmedabad Airport, 242 On Board

An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Thursday. Flight AI171, bound for London Gatwick, carried 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The incident occurred around 1:40 PM IST in the Meghani Nagar area, near the airport perimeter.

Thick black smoke billowed from the crash site, visible from areas like Dharpur and Vastrapur. Emergency services, including seven fire engines and over two dozen ambulances, rushed to the scene. Three National Disaster Response Force teams from Gandhinagar, totaling 90 personnel, were deployed, with more units dispatched from Vadodara.

Air India confirmed the incident in a statement: “Flight AI171 was involved in an incident today, June 12, 2025. We are ascertaining details and will share updates on airindia.com and our X handle.” The aircraft, registered as VT-ANB, issued a mayday call to Air Traffic Control before losing contact seconds after takeoff.

The plane, under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal with 8,200 hours of experience, reached approximately 825 feet before descending rapidly. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the passengers, listed on the manifest.

At least 30 fatalities have been reported, though official numbers remain unconfirmed. The crash site showed debris scattered across a densely populated area, with some buildings damaged. Local residents aided initial rescue efforts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, who is en route to oversee operations. Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured full central government support to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. Flight operations at Ahmedabad airport are suspended until further notice.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. Authorities have activated emergency protocols, and hospitals are on high alert. Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran expressed condolences: “Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones affected by this tragic accident.”