On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad, India, to London Gatwick, United Kingdom, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
The flight, carrying 242 passengers and crew members, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals, went down in the Meghani Nagar residential area near the airport perimeter at approximately 1:40 p.m. IST (8:10 UTC).
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The aircraft, registered as VT-ANB, issued a “Mayday” call to air traffic control moments before losing communication, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Thick black smoke and flames were reported at the crash site, with debris scattered across the area, including parts of the aircraft impacting a doctors’ hostel.
Emergency response teams, including firefighters, ambulances, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) units, were deployed immediately.
Over two dozen ambulances transported injured passengers to nearby hospitals, and a green corridor was established to expedite medical care.
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The Ahmedabad airport has been temporarily closed, with all flight operations suspended until further notice.
Air India issued a statement: “Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest.”
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India and the DGCA have launched investigations to determine the cause of the crash, the first involving a Boeing 787 since its introduction in 2011.
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Among the passengers was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, confirmed via passenger manifests. The extent of casualties remains unconfirmed, with rescue operations ongoing.
Visuals from the site show charred wreckage and significant destruction, raising concerns about potential ground injuries in the densely populated area.