An Air India flight heading to London crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon. Flight AI171 had just left Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport when the incident occurred. The crash happened within minutes of departure.
Aircraft Was Bound for London Gatwick
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was flying from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. It carried 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Among the passengers, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were British, seven were Portuguese, and one was Canadian.
Plane Sent Distress Call Before Crash
According to reports, the aircraft took off at 1:39 PM from runway 23. Moments later, it sent out a MAYDAY call to air traffic control. Soon after, the plane crashed, causing widespread panic and destruction near the airport.
Eyewitnesses Describe Scene of Horror
Local residents who witnessed the crash described a terrifying scene. One person told PTI, “We heard a massive sound. When we came out, the sky was filled with smoke. Dead bodies and debris from the aircraft were scattered everywhere.” Another witness, Ramila, said her son was inside a hostel the plane hit. “My son is safe, and I have spoken to him. But he jumped from the second floor and got injured,” she said.
pic.twitter.com/pre64xklq8
— SatyavadiLadki (@SatyavadiLadki) June 12, 2025
This is damn sad man 😔
Condition of Doctors Hostel where plane crashed 😭#planecrashes #planecrashahmedabad
Emergency Teams Begin Rescue Work
Immediately after the crash, fire services and emergency teams reached the site. They rescued survivors and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals. Air India confirmed this, stating, “The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals.” The airline also shared a dedicated helpline number, 1800 5691 444, for more information.
Top Officials Respond Swiftly
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu rushed to Ahmedabad from Vijayawada. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to him soon after and asked for immediate help to be given to all those affected. According to Naidu’s office, emergency services remain on high alert and are working together to manage the situation.
Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest on https://t.co/Fnw0ywg2Zt and on our X handle (https://t.co/Id1XFe9SfL).
— Air India (@airindia) June 12, 2025
-Air India…
Flights Suspended, Investigation Begins
Authorities suspended all flights from Ahmedabad Airport until further notice. FlightRadar data showed the aircraft only reached an altitude of 625 feet before crashing. Investigators will use flight data and the black box to find the exact cause.