Air India Boeing 787‑8 Crashes in Ahmedabad – All on Board Affected
Glasgow, Scotland – June 12, 2025 – Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner registered VT‑ANB, crashed shortly after departing Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 p.m. IST, enroute to London Gatwick. The aircraft carried 242 people—230 passengers and 12 crew members—including individuals from India, the UK, Portugal, and Canada.
What Happened
A mayday call was made by the flight crew seconds after takeoff, at around 625 ft altitude, before all communications abruptly ceased.
The plane crashed into a doctors’ hostel in the Meghani Nagar residential neighbourhood, igniting a large fire and sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky.
Victims and Rescue Efforts
While no exact death toll is available, at least 30 bodies have been recovered, with many more missing beneath the wreckage.
Injured survivors are being treated in local hospitals, as fire and rescue teams—including NDRF units—continue their operations amid wide-scale evacuation and medical response.
Ahmedabad Airport has suspended all flights as the disaster site remains under emergency control.
Officials’ Reactions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed that the incident has “stunned and saddened us,” and called for full support to rescue teams and affected families.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer labelled the crash as “devastating,” confirming that crisis teams are assisting British nationals and their relatives.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu reported that “all emergency and aviation services have been mobilized,” and that he’s personally overseeing the situation.
Aircraft and Industry Implications
This is the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 since the aircraft entered service in 2009—marking its first hull loss.
The aircraft was delivered to Air India in January 2014 and had no prior hull-loss incidents.
Boeing’s stock dropped around 7% in early trading following the crash, reflecting investor concern amid ongoing scrutiny of the 787’s safety record.
Investigation Underway
Indian authorities, including the DGCA and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, along with Boeing and Air India, have launched a joint probe into potential technical, human, and communication causes.
The flight data and cockpit voice recorders are expected to be recovered and analysed to shed light on the sequence leading up to the crash .
Emphasis is being placed on examining the 787's history of technical issues and inspection records.
Coverage from Leading News Agencies
Reuters reports that Flight AI 171 issued a mayday seconds after takeoff at 13:39 IST and crashed into a doctors’ hostel, confirming at least 11 children were on board, with “many fatalities” and rescue operations underway near the airport.
AP News provides live updates, emphasising 242 people on board and describing a rescue scene involving firefighters and thick smoke as the flight originated for London Gatwick.
The Guardian notes that at least 30 bodies have been recovered, all airport operations in Ahmedabad have been halted, and both UK and Indian crisis teams are actively assisting affected families.
Al Jazeera confirms the plane crashed in a civilian area shortly after takeoff, carrying 242 passengers and crew, and that the investigation is already underway.
Reuters Business also highlights that Boeing stock dropped nearly 8% in pre-market trading in response to the crash, reflecting renewed safety concerns for its 787 series.
