Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crashes in Ahmedabad – PM Modi Calls it “Heartbreaking Beyond Words

Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025 – Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, bound for London Gatwick. The tragedy, which claimed all 242 people onboard and others on the ground, has shaken India and the world. Here’s the latest on this catastrophic event.

A Flight’s Final Moments

The disaster struck fast:

• Flight AI171 took off at 1:38 PM IST, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew, including 169 Indians, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian.
• At 625 feet, pilots Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar issued a Mayday call, which cut off seconds later.
• The plane slammed into a doctors’ hostel in Meghani Nagar, igniting a fierce blaze.

The sudden loss left Ahmedabad reeling.

A Heavy Toll

The human cost is staggering:

• No survivors were found among the 242 onboard, with over 100 bodies recovered, many charred beyond recognition.
• Ground casualties, including hostel residents, are likely but unconfirmed, with some locals injured.
• A witness said, “The ground shook, and flames swallowed everything.”

Families and communities grieve deeply.

Leaders Share Grief

Condolences came swiftly:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the crash “heartbreaking beyond words,” vowing close coordination with rescue teams.
• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled it “devastating,” offering support for British nationals and their families.
• Air India’s hotline (1800-5691-444) is aiding distraught relatives.

The tragedy bridges nations in sorrow.

Rescue Efforts Under Pressure

Help poured in:

• Six National Disaster Response Force teams, alongside fire services, police, army engineers, and medics, battled the inferno and searched for survivors.
• A green corridor sped the injured to Civil Hospital and other facilities, with over 700 responders on site.
• The airport resumed limited flights by evening, as trains assisted stranded passengers.

The response showed strength amid chaos.

A Historic Blow to Boeing

The crash marks a grim milestone:

• This is the first fatal hull loss of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its 2011 debut, raising questions about its safety record.
• Boeing’s shares dipped 4% in premarket trading, reflecting investor concerns.
• The aircraft, VT-ANB, was delivered in 2014 and deemed airworthy after recent checks.

The aviation industry faces scrutiny.

India’s Aviation Safety in Focus

The crash is a painful reminder:

• It’s among India’s deadliest aviation disasters, rivaling the 1996 Charkhi Dadri collision and 2020 Calicut crash.
• India’s safety record has improved, but this event sparks calls for stricter standards and upgrades.
• An X post read, “Heartbroken for AI171—time for tougher safety rules.”

The nation demands answers.

Probing the Cause

Investigators are at work:

• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, joined by Boeing, GE Aerospace, and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, is leading the probe.
• Black boxes, holding flight data and cockpit recordings, are key to understanding the Mayday call’s cause.
• Possible factors include engine issues, weather, or human error, though nothing is confirmed.

The truth lies in the wreckage.