Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025 – Air India’s Flight AI171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, crashed right into a medical and residential zone in Meghani Nagar shortly after it flew out of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. On the flight to London Gatwick, there were 242 people in total – 230 of them were passengers, including 11 children and 2 infants, and the rest were 12 crew members. Just a few seconds after it lifted off at 1:38 PM IST, the crash took place and a mayday call was made before they lost contact. The exact cause remains under investigation.
A total of 204 bodies have been recovered, and there are fears the death toll might climb to 241, according to officials. At least five medical students lost their lives and dozens were hurt when the plane crashed into the doctors’ hostel at B.J. Medical College. Around 75 bodies were found in the area.
A British-Indian man named Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40 years old and seated in 11A, survived. He’s now in a nearby hospital with injuries to his chest, eyes, and foot. Vishwash Ramesh (from hospital) described the scene: “There were bodies all around me.”
Flight AI171 departed runway 23 en route to London Gatwick. The passengers included 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian. The flight was in the hands of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal with 8,200 flying hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar with 1,100 hours.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted: “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the crash “devastating.” King Charles III and Queen Camilla extended their condolences.
It was a clear day when the crash occurred shortly after take-off. Early footage shows the landing gear hadn’t retracted and the engines seemed weak at 625 feet, seconds before the fireball. It might have been a failed engine, incorrect settings on the flaps or landing gear, or a bird hitting the plane, but we don’t have answers yet.
Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran wrote on X, “With profound sorrow, I confirm that Air India Flight 171… was involved in a tragic accident… Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families… An emergency center has been activated.”
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is now looking into the incident, with help from investigators in the UK and the US. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said that investigations will take time, but anything we can do now, we are doing … we will continue to share accurate and timely information.
The fire teams, medical help, and forces like NDRF, CISF, and the Indian Army responded fast. Nearby roads were closed off, and the airport has temporarily paused its operations. Search and rescue crews are still working through the rubble.
Air India has started a helpline at 1800 5691 444, and the Ahmedabad police have shared local contact numbers too. Tata Group will give ₹1 crore, or around US$118,000, to each victim, along with medical support. With cleanup still in progress, Ahmedabad Airports is following a limited schedule.
The crew is working on collecting both the voice recorder from the cockpit and the flight data. We can expect full details in the coming months.
This is the first time a Boeing 787 has been involved in a deadly crash and completely destroyed since it started flying in 2011. With more than 290 people dead, including some on the ground, this has become India’s most tragic air crash in 10 years.
