Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, Flight AI171, bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on June 12, 2025, around 1:38 PM IST.
- Flight Details: The aircraft carried 242 people, including 232 passengers and 10 crew members (or 12 in some reports). Among the passengers, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was reportedly on board.
- Crash Location: The plane crashed in the Meghani Nagar residential area, near the airport, hitting a doctors’ hostel at BJ Medical College. Visuals show thick black smoke and a fireball upon impact, with debris piercing buildings.
- Casualties: Reports vary, but at least 30 people were confirmed dead, with fears that all 242 on board may have perished. Five medical students at the hostel were also killed. No survivors have been confirmed, though rescue efforts continue.
- Emergency Response: Fire brigades, ambulances, and over 700 personnel from the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Coast Guard are at the site. A control room and hotline (1800 5691 444) have been set up for families.
Image Sources: Internet and Social Media – Verified
- Investigation: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing the crash, with a team dispatched to Ahmedabad. The pilots issued a Mayday call moments before the crash, but no further communication was received. The cause remains unknown, with speculation about engineering faults or other factors, but no conclusions have been drawn.
- Official Statements:
- PM Narendra Modi called the incident “heartbreaking” and is coordinating relief efforts.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu are heading to Ahmedabad.
- Air India and the Tata Group expressed condolences and are supporting response efforts.
- The UK, Canada, and Portugal are working with Indian authorities to assist affected nationals.
- Airport Status: Ahmedabad airport resumed operations from 4:05 PM IST after a temporary suspension.
This is the first recorded crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a model previously noted for its strong safety record. The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected as authorities analyze the wreckage and flight data.
Comments