Air India Flight AI171 Crash – Ahmedabad, 12 June 2025

A devastating air disaster struck India today as an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed into a residential doctors' hostel moments after take-off, killing at least 35 people and injuring many more, both on board and on the ground. The plane took off at 13:38 local time and reached just 625 feet before losing all communication with air traffic control, prompting a Mayday call seconds before the crash. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by a huge fireball engulfing the building, with rescue workers battling thick smoke and flames for hours. Among the victims are Indian and British nationals, as the passenger list included 169 Indians, 53 Britons, and other European travellers, with families now anxiously waiting for news. Survivors described chaotic scenes as some managed to jump from windows to escape the burning hostel, where doctors had gathered for their lunch break. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the tragedy was “heartbreaking beyond words” and promised full government support for the victims and their families. 

Boeing, already under scrutiny for safety concerns, confirmed it is cooperating with investigators as this marks the first fatal crash of the 787 Dreamliner since its introduction. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that crisis teams are working both in India and the UK to support affected British nationals. Flight operations at Ahmedabad airport were briefly suspended and have since resumed under heightened safety measures. Early reports suggest a catastrophic loss of thrust or lift may have caused the crash, though full investigations by Indian and international authorities are now underway. The incident has cast a shadow over the global aviation industry, with Boeing stock tumbling in early trading, and Air India pledging transparency and full cooperation in uncovering the exact cause of the disaster.

On 12 June 2025 at approximately 13:38 IST, Air India Flight AI171—a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner—took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, bound for London Gatwick, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew. Within seconds, at around 625 ft (190 m), the aircraft lost radar contact after the pilots issued a “Mayday” distress call aljazeera.com+15thetimes.co.uk+15npr.org+15en.wikipedia.org+6theguardian.com+6en.wikipedia.org+6.

Crash Site and Victims
The plane crashed into Meghani Nagar, a densely populated residential area adjacent to the airport. It collided directly with a hostel used to accommodate local doctors at BJ Medical College, causing significant structural damage and igniting a massive fire due to the aircraft’s full fuel load thetimes.co.uk+5en.wikipedia.org+5theguardian.com+5. Rescue teams have recovered between 30 and 35 bodies from the crash site. Fatalities may include not only those onboard but also ground victims in the hostel—reports indicate “many people killed” en.wikipedia.org+8reuters.com+8en.wikipedia.org+8.

Occupants Profile

• Total on board: 242 (230 passengers + 12 crew) nypost.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15thesun.co.uk+15

• Nationalities: 169 Indian, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, 1 Canadian zh.wikipedia.org+9thetimes.co.uk+9en.wikipedia.org+9

Aircraft and Pilot

• Model: Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, registration VT‑ANB, in service since 2014 ndtv.com+4en.wikipedia.org+4en.wikipedia.org+4

• Pilot-in-command: Capt Sumeet Sabharwal, with over 8,200 flight hours nypost.com+5thetimes.co.uk+5timesofindia.indiatimes.com+5

This is the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its introduction in 2011 npr.org+7thetimes.co.uk+7en.wikipedia.org+7.

Timeline & Technical Details

• Take‑off at 13:38 IST.

• Seconds later, climb to ~625 ft and 174 knots, then Mayday call and radar silence economictimes.indiatimes.comnypost.com+4thetimes.co.uk+4theguardian.com+4.

• Eyewitnesses described loud explosions, followed by thick black smoke thetimes.co.uk+13en.wikipedia.org+13thedailybeast.com+13.

• Experts suggest a catastrophic loss of thrust or lift possibly due to engine issues, configuration error, or bird strike; landing gear remained down ndtv.com.

Emergency Response
Firefighters, ambulances, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams rushed to the scene. Ahmedabad Airport briefly suspended all operations before resuming later that afternoon news.sky.com+15thetimes.co.uk+15en.wikipedia.org+15.

Official Reactions

• Indian PM Narendra Modi described the crash as "heartbreaking beyond words" and confirmed coordination with authorities to aid rescue efforts en.wikipedia.org.

• UK officials (Foreign Secretary David Lammy, PM Keir Starmer) expressed condolences, activated crisis teams in India and the UK, and set up support for families of British citizens on board thetimes.co.uk+1en.wikipedia.org+1.

• Air India (Tata Group) and Boeing launched investigations; Boeing stated it’s gathering data, while Air India reaffirmed support for affected families .

• Market impact: Boeing stock futures dropped over 7% in reaction to the crash zh.wikipedia.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1.

Investigations Underway
India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), Air India, and Boeing are conducting joint inquiries. All aircraft data—including recorder info, maintenance logs, and ATC communications—are being analyzed news.sky.com+8en.wikipedia.org+8thedailybeast.com+8.

Next Steps:

1. Retrieve the flight’s cockpit voice & data recorders.

2. Analyze wreckage for engine, structural failures, and design/configuration data (e.g. landing gear/flaps).

3. Interview ATC and eyewitnesses.

4. Release interim findings once data review is complete.

Summary at a Glance