AHMEDABAD, INDIA – June 12, 2025 – An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, Flight AI171, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, tragically crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad today. The devastating incident has resulted in the confirmed deaths of 241 of the 242 people on board, with one British national of Indian origin reported as the sole survivor.
The aircraft, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, plunged into a residential area, specifically striking a medical college hostel in the Meghani Nagar area. The impact caused widespread destruction, and fears of additional casualties on the ground are significant as rescue and recovery efforts continue amidst the debris and fire. Initial reports from emergency services indicate that at least five medical students were among those killed on the ground, with many more feared buried under the rubble.
Featured Image: Smoke billows from the crash site in Ahmedabad, India, as emergency services respond to the Air India Flight AI171 disaster on June 12, 2025.
(Imagine a somber image of black smoke rising from a residential area with emergency vehicles and personnel in the foreground.)
The flight departed Ahmedabad at approximately 1:38 PM local time. According to initial data from flight tracking websites, the Dreamliner reached a maximum altitude of around 625 feet before it began to descend rapidly. India’s aviation regulatory body confirmed that the aircraft issued a “mayday” call, signaling an emergency, but subsequently lost all communication with air traffic control.
While the exact cause of the crash remains under intensive investigation, aviation experts are already analyzing early observations. Some reports suggest the aircraft appeared to have its nose up and was not gaining altitude, and questions have been raised about the position of the wing flaps during takeoff. The black boxes (flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder) have yet to be recovered, but their retrieval is paramount to understanding the sequence of events leading to this catastrophic failure. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has confirmed it will send a team to assist India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in the probe.
This incident marks the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft’s introduction in 2009.The 787, known for its fuel efficiency and advanced technology, has a strong safety record to date, making this crash a profound shock to the aviation industry. Boeing has issued a statement expressing its condolences and stating it is ready to support the investigation.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep sorrow, calling the tragedy “heartbreaking beyond words.”Condolences have also poured in from around the globe, including from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III, reflecting the international nature of the casualties on board, which included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.
Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport has suspended all flight operations until further notice as the focus remains on the immense recovery and investigation efforts. The aviation community now awaits the findings of the detailed inquiry to understand what led to this devastating loss of life.
