Ahmedabad, India – June 12, 2025
A London-bound Air India flight (AI171) carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, today. Authorities have confirmed that there are likely no survivors, with additional casualties reported on the ground as the aircraft plunged into a medical college hostel in the Meghani Nagar area 126.
Key Details of the Crash
1. Flight and Aircraft Information
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Flight No.: AI171 (Ahmedabad to London Gatwick)
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Aircraft: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (first fatal crash in its operational history) 36
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Passengers & Crew: 230 passengers (including 11 children, 2 infants) and 12 crew members 210
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Nationalities: 169 Indians, 53 Britons, 7 Portuguese, 1 Canadian 46
2. Timeline of the Disaster
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Takeoff: 1:38 PM local time (08:09 GMT) from Runway 23 2
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Mayday Call: Pilots issued an emergency signal before losing contact 510
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Crash Site: Aircraft crashed into BJ Medical College hostel, killing medical students and residents 19
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Fire & Explosion: Heavy fuel load exacerbated the blaze, with thick black smoke seen for kilometers 16
3. Casualties & Rescue Efforts
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No Survivors Expected: Police Commissioner G.S. Malik stated, “It appears there are no survivors in the plane crash” 47.
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Ground Casualties: At least 5 medical students confirmed dead in the hostel 9.
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Rescue Operations: Over 100 bodies recovered, with NDRF teams deployed 29.
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Hospitals Overwhelmed: Injured rushed to Asarwa Civil Hospital 9.
4. Eyewitness Accounts
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Haresh Shah (Witness): “The plane was flying very low and crashed into the doctors’ quarters” 1.
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Office Worker Near Crash Site: “There was a loud explosion, and smoke filled the area instantly” 1.
5. Government & Airline Response
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PM Narendra Modi: “The tragedy has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words.” 16
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Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran: Activated emergency support teams for affected families 46.
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UK & Canada Respond: British PM Keir Starmer called the scenes “devastating,” while Canada’s PM Mark Carney expressed condolences 910.
6. Investigation & Boeing’s Involvement
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AAIB Probe Launched: India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau dispatched a team 9.
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Boeing Under Scrutiny: Shares fell 9% amid concerns over Dreamliner safety 36.
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Previous Whistleblower Claims: FAA had investigated structural concerns in Boeing 787s in 2024 3.
7. Airport Operations & Compensation
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Ahmedabad Airport briefly suspended flights but later resumed operations 9.
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Air India Blacked Out Social Media as a mark of mourning 9.
Conclusion
This marks India’s deadliest aviation disaster since 1996 and the first fatal crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. As families await identification of victims, global aviation authorities brace for a high-profile investigation into what went wrong.
For real-time updates, follow official helplines:
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Air India Passenger Hotline: 1800 5691 444
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Ahmedabad Police: 079-25620359
