An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The aircraft, which was en route to London, plunged into the Meghani area of the city, resulting in a massive plume of black smoke and prompting an immediate emergency response.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the flight was carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers, 2 pilots, and 10 cabin crew members. Of the passengers, 53 were British Citizens, 7 Portuguese, 1 Canadian national and the remaining 169 on board were Indians.
Capt Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar were in command of the flight. The plane was heavily fueled for the long-haul journey, which likely exacerbated the intensity of the explosion and fire that followed the crash.
#BREAKING | Air India Ahmedabad-London flight crashes near airport in Gujarat's Meghani area
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) June 12, 2025
More details awaited 🔗https://t.co/h1DrVJXaWq pic.twitter.com/MiuFVuB4AC
Fire engines and ambulances were dispatched to the crash site to conduct rescue operations. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding casualties, and the DGCA is expected to launch a formal investigation, possibly involving a technical team from Boeing. Experts suggest that the heavy fuel load may have worsened the post-crash fire, complicating the rescue efforts.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel have been in contact regarding the incident. Patel expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and directed officials to expedite rescue operations. He confirmed that the central government would provide full support in managing the aftermath and investigation.
Footage of the plane descending into commercial area shortly after takeoff
In its first official statement, Air India confirmed the incident, stating, “Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad–London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details.”
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed six teams from Gandhinagar and Vadodara to assist with the rescue efforts.
