Air India Plane Crash in Ahmedabad: 242 Onboard, Fireball After Take-Off – All You Need to Know

In a tragic incident that has shaken the nation, Air India Flight AI171, operating a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, 2025. The aircraft was carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The crash occurred just minutes after departure, with the aircraft reportedly bursting into flames and crashing into the Meghani Nagar area near the airport. Massive plumes of black smoke and a fiery explosion were witnessed by locals, sparking immediate panic and emergency response.

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Among the 230 passengers, 11 were children. The passengers were of mixed nationalities—169 Indian citizens, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese citizens, and 1 Canadian. Notably, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was also on board. The aircraft was captained by Sumeet Sabharwal, with Clive Kundar serving as the first officer. The aircraft, registered under tail number VT-ANB, had a solid record prior to this fatal accident.

The aircraft took off at approximately 1:38 PM IST, and a mayday distress call was issued shortly before it crashed. The jet is believed to have reached an altitude of just over 600 feet before it began descending rapidly. The plane crashed into a residential compound and caused widespread damage. Emergency response teams, including fire brigades, NDRF units, and paramedics, reached the site swiftly. As of now, at least 30 bodies have been recovered from the debris, and several others have been admitted to hospitals with injuries. Rescue operations are still ongoing, and authorities are working around the clock to assess the full extent of the damage.

India's Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, issued a statement confirming that rescue efforts were fully underway and being personally monitored by top officials. Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran expressed deep sorrow and confirmed the activation of emergency response protocols. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences to the families of the victims, as did UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who acknowledged the loss of British citizens and assured cooperation with Indian authorities. The governments of Portugal and Canada also expressed their grief and extended support.

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have both launched full investigations. Technical teams are now working to retrieve and analyze the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) to determine the root cause of the crash. Given the high fuel load for the long-haul flight to London, experts believe the explosion and fire may have been intensified by the volume of fuel onboard. Boeing representatives are also expected to join the investigation, marking this as the first-ever fatal crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its launch in 2011.

This accident is not only a national tragedy but also a significant moment in global aviation. It marks Air India’s most serious accident in decades and the first fatal incident involving the technologically advanced Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Aviation analysts around the world are closely monitoring developments, and the incident is likely to spark discussions around aircraft safety, maintenance practices, and emergency response readiness, especially in densely populated urban zones near major airports.