Tragedy in Ahmedabad: Air India Flight Crashes Shortly After Takeoff, Hundreds Feared Dead

Ahmedabad, India – June 12, 2025

In one of the most devastating aviation disasters in recent Indian history, an Air India flight bound for London crashed just minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The crash occurred at approximately 1:45 PM local time, sending the aircraft plunging into a densely populated neighborhood in the Meghani Nagar area.

The Flight and Crash

The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating as Flight AI171, was en route to London Gatwick with 242 people onboard—230 passengers and 12 crew members. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing the plane engulfed in flames before it fell rapidly and struck buildings on the outskirts of t

Local residents described scenes of horror, with flaming debris crashing into homes and thick plumes of smoke filling the air. Emergency services rushed to the scene within minutes, battling fires and rescuing sur

Casua

As of now, Indian authorities have confirmed multiple fatalities, including people on the ground. The exact death toll has yet to be released, but officials fear that most passengers onboard did not survive. Dozens of local residents were also injured, some cri

Among the passengers were citizens from four countries: India (169), United Kingdom (53), Portugal (7), and Canada (1). Several prominent Indian business leaders and a former state Chief Minister were reportedly on board, though this is yet t

Government Response

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the inci

“Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in the Ahmedabad air tragedy. My prayers are with the families of the victims. Emergency operations are underway and every possible support is being ex

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air India have launched a joint investigation. U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing also released a statement offering full cooperation and techni

Eyew

Rahul Desai, a res

“It felt like the ground shook. The noise was deafening. Within seconds, we saw flames and people sc

Investi

While the cause of the crash remains unknown, early reports suggest the aircraft may have suffered a catastrophic engine failure shortly after takeoff. Flight data recorders have been recovered and sent

Aviation experts have called for calm and a thorough investigation before drawing conclusions. Meanwhile, all flights in and out of Ahmedabad were temporarily suspended to facilitate rescue efforts.

A Nation i

Vigils