NDC DESK
Air India Boeing 787 Crashes Shortly After Takeoff from Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025 – An alarming incident unfolded today when Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed moments after departing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The flight, carrying 232 passengers and 12 crew, issued a Mayday call and climbed to just 625 feet before communications were lost .
Eyewitnesses in the Meghani Nagar area, adjacent to the airport perimeter, reported hearing explosions followed by a massive plume of thick black smoke.
Visuals captured emergency services racing to the crash site where the fuselage was partially engulfed in flames. Authorities temporarily suspended airport operations to facilitate rescue efforts.
No confirmed fatalities have been announced. Rescue teams, including firefighters and medical personnel, are at work assessing the situation and tending to injured passengers and possibly affected residents on the ground.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu has confirmed that all emergency and aviation response units have been mobilized.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have launched a comprehensive investigation into the cause. This marks the first-ever hull loss involving a Boeing 787 since its entry into service in 2011.
Onboard pilots included Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with 8,200 flying hours, and co-pilot Clive Kundar, with 1,100 flying hours.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed and is reportedly monitoring updates closely, underscoring the government’s commitment to swift response and support for families affected.
As the nation watches in shock, officials assure that more detailed updates, including possible causes and casualty figures, will be released after the investigation.
