Ahmedabad, India June 12, 2025 An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying over 240 people crashed moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon. The London-bound flight, AI171, went down in a residential area near the airport, erupting in a massive fire and sending a thick plume of black smoke into the sky. Authorities have stated that there are no known survivors at this time.
The flight, destined for London's Gatwick Airport (LGW), was carrying a total of 242 individuals, including passengers and crew, according to initial reports from the airline. The aircraft reportedly crashed into a hostel building, compounding the tragedy. Emergency services, including fire brigades and ambulances, were immediately dispatched to the scene and are engaged in a massive search and rescue operation.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing the aircraft descending rapidly before impact. Images and videos from the crash site show the devastating aftermath, with wreckage strewn across a wide area and firefighters battling the intense blaze.
"This is a catastrophic event," a local official told reporters at the scene. "Our primary focus right now is on the rescue and relief efforts. We are doing everything in our power to manage this tragic situation."
Air India has expressed its deep sorrow and has set up an emergency response center to provide information and support to the families of those on board. The airline is working closely with authorities to ascertain the full details of the incident.
The cause of the crash is not yet known. India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an immediate investigation to determine the circumstances that led to this disaster. A team of investigators has been dispatched to the crash site to collect evidence, including the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, which will be crucial in understanding the final moments of Flight AI171.
This incident marks a dark day for Indian aviation and is the first major crash involving an Air India aircraft in recent years. The last major incident involving the airline was in August 2020, when an Air India Express flight overshot the runway in Calicut, resulting in multiple fatalities.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available from the official investigation.
