A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed shortly after take off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The Air India Flight AI171 was en route to London Gatwick. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is believed to be among the passengers on the ill-fated flight. The crash happened within five minutes of departing at 1:38 PM IST, as the plane plunged into the Meghaninagar residential area, near the IGB Compound and Dharpur.
The crash triggered a massive fire, with thick black smoke visible in several social media videos. Emergency response teams, including seven fire brigade tenders and police, were swiftly deployed to extinguish the blaze and conduct rescue operations. All roads to the crash site were sealed off due to the chaotic scene in the densely populated area.
The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, with no official statement on casualties or survivors released yet. Air India in a statement on X said that, “Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest. Union Home Minister Amit Shah discussed the situation with Gujarat officials, assuring central government support. Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu departing for Ahmedabad to oversee response efforts.
Investigations are ongoing to determine whether mechanical failure, human error, or external factors caused the tragedy.