Ahmedabad:in a devastating tragedy, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. All 242 people on board — including 230 passengers and 12 crew members — were killed in the crash.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft lost radar contact just five minutes after departure at an altitude of approximately 625 feet. Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene as the aircraft plunged and exploded mid-air before crashing into a doctors’ hostel on the campus of B.J. Medical College in the Meghani Nagar neighborhood.
The fatalities included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian national. Among the deceased was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The disaster has left families and communities in deep mourning across multiple countries.
The DGCA has launched a full-scale investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Initial points of examination include the aircraft’s undercarriage status and flap-retraction during its climb. Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, and GE Aerospace, the engine supplier, have pledged their full cooperation and technical support.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident and conveyed condolences to the families of the victims. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also issued a statement mourning the loss of British nationals on the flight. India’s Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu has ordered a comprehensive emergency response. All flight operations at Ahmedabad airport were temporarily suspended following the incident.
The crash’s impact extended beyond the flight itself. The plane struck the B.J. Medical College doctors’ hostel during lunchtime, causing further casualties and injuries among students and staff. Witnesses reported scenes of chaos, with residents jumping from buildings to escape the inferno that followed.
This crash is the first fatal incident and hull loss involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its commercial debut in 2011. It is now being regarded as one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent history.
Authorities continue to assess the full extent of damage and are working to support victims’ families and affected communities.
