In a tragic incident, Air India’s Flight AI171 crashed just five minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The flight was headed to London Gatwick.
Passengers and Crew Onboard
According to Air India, the flight had 242 people onboard. This included 230 passengers and 12 crew members, among them two pilots. Moreover, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were British, 7 were Portuguese, and 1 was Canadian.
This is a heart wrenching a tragedy
— Dinesh Bakshi🇮🇳 (@Dinesh_Bakshi) June 12, 2025
Immediately after take off, ATC received MayDay. No further communication
Gear was down, so points to crash landing as per experts on TV
But height as per flight radar was around 400 plus feet, so no time for pilots to react#AI171 ...1/2 pic.twitter.com/NphqCIXJSq
Rescue Efforts Begin
Immediately after the crash, emergency teams launched rescue operations. Air India confirmed, “The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals.”
Air India confirms that flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an accident today after take-off.
— Air India (@airindia) June 12, 2025
The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Of these, 169 are…
Additionally, the airline provided a hotline: “We have also set up a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 to provide more information.”
Cause Under Investigation
So far, the reason for the crash remains unclear. However, an investigation is already underway. Flight AI171 departed at 1:38 pm. Just five minutes later, the aircraft crashed near the airport. Meanwhile, horrifying videos circulating online show the Boeing 787 Dreamliner falling rapidly.
Altitude Data Shows Sudden Drop
According to FlightRadar data, the plane reached an altitude of just 625 feet before the crash occurred.
Flights Suspended at Airport
As a precaution, all flights from Ahmedabad airport have been suspended until further notice.