Air India Flight AI171 Crash in Ahmedabad: A Tragic Disaster Unfolds

Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025 – Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, plunging into a residential area in Meghani Nagar. The London Gatwick-bound flight, carrying 242 people, ignited a massive fire, marking India’s deadliest aviation tragedy in years. Here’s what we know about this heartbreaking incident.

The Flight and Its Aircraft

The details are stark:

• Flight AI171, bound for London Gatwick, took off at 1:38 PM IST with 230 passengers and 12 crew, including 169 Indian, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian nationals.
• The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, registered VT-ANB, was delivered in 2014, one of 27 in Air India’s fleet, and had arrived from Delhi that morning.
• Pilots Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar led the crew, issuing a Mayday call before contact was lost.

This was a routine flight turned catastrophic.

The Crash Itself

The disaster unfolded quickly:

• Seconds after takeoff, the plane climbed to just 625 feet before crashing into a doctors’ hostel in Meghani Nagar, 8 km from the runway.
• A massive fire, fueled by the plane’s long-haul fuel load, engulfed the site, with thick black smoke visible across Ahmedabad.
• A local said, “It was like an explosion—debris everywhere, then flames.”

The impact devastated the community.

Lives Lost and Uncertainties

The toll is grim:

• No survivors have been reported from the flight’s 242 passengers and crew, with over 100 bodies recovered, many badly burned.
• Ground casualties, including hostel residents, are unconfirmed, though some locals escaped with injuries.
• Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the passengers, adding to the tragedy’s weight.

Families face unbearable loss.

Emergency Response in Action

Help came fast:

• Six National Disaster Response Force teams, over 20 fire tenders, and 700 Indian Army and Coast Guard personnel tackled the blaze and searched for survivors.
• Civil Hospital and others opened green corridors for the injured, with ambulances racing through Ahmedabad.
• The airport halted operations, later resuming limited flights, while trains supported stranded travelers.

The response showed India’s resolve.

Leaders Speak Out

Condolences poured in:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the crash “heartbreaking beyond words,” promising full government support.
• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer offered assistance for British nationals, saying, “Our thoughts are with all affected.”
• Air India’s chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, activated a hotline (1800-5691-444) and pledged aid for families.

The tragedy united leaders in grief.

Why This Matters

The crash is historic:

• It’s the first fatal hull-loss of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its 2011 debut, a blow to the model’s safety record.
• For Air India, it’s the worst disaster since a 2020 crash, raising questions about its safety protocols.
• Boeing’s shares fell 8% in premarket trading, reflecting market jitters.

The incident shakes global aviation.

Investigating the Cause

Answers are urgent:

• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, Boeing, and GE Aerospace are probing the crash, focusing on the black boxes for flight data and cockpit recordings.
• Possible causes include technical issues with the Dreamliner’s General Electric GEnx engines, gusty winds, or human error.
• An X post read, “Prayers for the families—hope the probe finds truth fast.”

The world awaits clarity.