An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, flight AI171, crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on the afternoon of June 12, 2025. The plane was flying to London Gatwick and had 242 people on board, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. It crashed in the Meghani area and caused a big fire because of the fuel in the plane.
Emergency teams, including six groups from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire trucks, ambulances, and police, quickly rushed to the crash site to help. The plane sent a MAYDAY call, which means it was in trouble, but then contact was lost.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has started an investigation to find out what happened, and Boeing, the plane’s maker, is expected to help. All flights at the airport have been stopped for now. The government and local officials are working together to help the victims’ families and manage the rescue efforts.
Gujarat faced a tragic moment on Thursday as former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who led the state from 2016 to 2021 and was a senior BJP leader, was confirmed dead in the Air India AI 171 plane crash near Ahmedabad.
The flight was headed to Gatwick Airport near London, Air India confirmed. Police said the plane crashed in a residential area close to the airport. A senior officer said the plane hit a doctors’ hostel building, and about 70 to 80 percent of the area had been cleared by rescue teams.
India’s CNN News-18 reported that the crash occurred on the dining area of the B.J. Medical College hostel, killing many medical students as well. Footage showed part of the plane resting on the building.
Rescue teams have recovered 30 to 35 bodies so far, and many people are still trapped under the debris.
There were 217 adults, 11 children, and two infants on board. Among them, 169 were Indian citizens, 53 were British, seven were Portuguese, and one was Canadian, according to Air India.
The plane was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, one of the newest passenger aircraft. Air India said they are gathering more details and that injured people are being taken to nearby hospitals.
The crash happened soon after the plane took off, according to TV reports. One channel showed the plane lifting off over a residential area before disappearing from the screen, followed by a large fireball rising into the sky.
Videos also showed burning debris and thick black smoke near the airport. People were being carried on stretchers and taken to hospitals by ambulance.
Poonam Patel, whose sister-in-law was on the flight, told ANI news that she heard about the crash within an hour of the plane taking off.
Ramila, whose son studies at the medical college, said her son was safe after jumping from the second floor of the hostel during the crash, although he was injured.
Ahmedabad Airport’s air traffic control said the plane left at 1:39 p.m. local time and sent a “Mayday” distress signal shortly after, but then stopped responding.
Flight tracking site Flightradar24 reported losing contact with the aircraft seconds after takeoff.
Boeing said it is aware of the reports and is gathering information. After the news, Boeing’s stock price dropped by nearly 7%.
The British government is working with Indian officials to learn more about the crash and support those affected.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sadness about the tragedy on social media, calling it heartbreaking.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the crash images as devastating and said he was staying informed. Buckingham Palace also said King Charles was being updated.
Ahmedabad, the site of the crash, is in Gujarat, Modi’s home state.
The Indian aviation ministry said Modi ordered full support for rescue efforts immediately.
Ahmedabad Airport, operated by the Adani Group, suspended all flights after the crash. Gautam Adani, chairman of the group, expressed sorrow and promised support for the families.
The last deadly plane crash in India happened in 2020 when an Air India Express Boeing 737 overshot a runway and crashed at Kozhikode Airport, killing 21 people.
Air India was previously government-owned but was bought by the Tata Group in 2022. It merged with Vistara, a joint venture between Tata and Singapore Airlines, in 2024.
Tata Group set up an emergency center and support team to assist families looking for information
