On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, marking one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.
The Incident
Flight AI171 departed Ahmedabad at 1:38 PM local time, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport. The aircraft lost contact with air traffic control just minutes after departure, with the final transmission recorded at 08:08:51 UTC, merely moments after takeoff. The plane crashed in the densely populated Meghani Nagar residential area, striking a doctors’ hostel at B.J. Medical College.
Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft struggling to gain altitude before it disappeared behind residential buildings and erupted in flames. The flight crew had issued a mayday call to air traffic control shortly before contact was lost. Unverified videos circulating on social media allegedly showed the aircraft during takeoff, struggling to ascend.
Casualties and Passengers
The flight was carrying 242 people in total – 230 passengers, 2 pilots, and 10 cabin crew members. According to Air India’s official confirmation, the passenger manifest included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian national. Among the passengers was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who had checked into business class.
Initial reports from Ahmedabad’s city police commissioner indicated there appeared to be no survivors from the crash. The crash also resulted in casualties on the ground, with five medical students at the hostel confirmed dead and approximately 40 others injured. The aircraft’s impact on the medical college hostel particularly affected undergraduate and postgraduate students who were in the building during lunch break.
Emergency Response and Investigation
Emergency services, including at least seven fire engines and multiple ambulances, were immediately dispatched to the crash site. All flight operations at Ahmedabad Airport were temporarily suspended following the incident. More than 100 bodies have been recovered and brought to local hospitals, according to police reports.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India has launched a formal investigation into the crash. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu personally traveled to Ahmedabad to oversee the response efforts. The investigation will focus on determining why the Boeing 787 Dreamliner encountered difficulties gaining altitude during the critical takeoff phase.
Aviation experts suggest the crash may have been caused by multiple bird strikes that prevented both engines from achieving optimum power, though this remains under investigation. The black box recovery will be crucial in determining the exact cause of the tragedy.
Historical Significance
This incident marks the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft’s commercial debut in 2011, ending the model’s previously unblemished safety record. It represents Air India’s first major hull loss since the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985. The crash has significant implications for Boeing, with the company’s stock futures dropping over 7% following the incident.
Official Responses
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, calling the tragedy “heartbreaking beyond words” and confirming he had spoken with relevant ministers about providing assistance to those affected. Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran issued a statement expressing “deepest condolences” to the families affected and confirmed that emergency support centers had been activated.
The UK government also responded, with officials working with local authorities to urgently establish facts and provide support to those involved. Emergency helpline numbers have been established for families seeking information about passengers.
This devastating accident serves as a stark reminder of aviation risks and will likely prompt renewed scrutiny of aircraft safety protocols and emergency response procedures in India’s aviation sector.