Tragedy struck in Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday as Air India Flight AI171, en route to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was carrying at least 242 passengers when the incident occurred, according to early reports from Asian News International (ANI) and Reuters. Official confirmation of the total number of passengers and crew is still awaited.
The crash site, located near Meghani Nagar—a densely populated area close to the airport—was engulfed in thick black smoke, alarming residents and onlookers. Emergency response units, including fire services and ambulances, rushed to the scene immediately.
Air India issued a statement confirming the incident:
“Flight AI171, operating the Ahmedabad–London Gatwick route, was involved in an incident on 12 June 2025. We are currently gathering more information and will provide updates as they become available.”
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reported that the flight took off at 1:17 PM local time and crashed minutes later. The flight was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with First Officer Clive Kundar serving as co-pilot.
An investigation is now underway, with officials from both DGCA and Air India tasked with determining the cause of the crash. The Gujarat state government has pledged immediate support and assistance to those impacted by the tragedy.
