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The plane had 242 people on board, while there were also casualties among local residents on the ground due to the impact
Scenes from the Ahmedabad Air India plane crash. (Photos: News18)
In a catastrophic event that sent shockwaves across India and the global aviation community, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (registration VT-ANB), crashed minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Thursday, June 12.
The flight, destined for London Gatwick Airport (LGW), carried 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The tragic incident occurred around 1.39 pm local time (08.09 GMT).
As many as 265 bodies have been brought to the city’s civil hospital following the horrific crash, a police official said.
“265 bodies have reached the hospital as per the message we received,” deputy commissioner of police Kanan Desai told reporters.
Sequence of Events
Preliminary information revealed that the aircraft departed using the full length of Runway 23, an 11,499-foot strip, adhering to standard safety protocols. However, less than a minute after lift-off, the signal from the aircraft was lost.
Flight tracking data indicates the aircraft reached a maximum barometric altitude of only 625 feet (approximately 425 feet above the airport elevation of 200 feet) before it began a rapid descent with a vertical speed of -475 feet per minute.
Reports from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirm that the pilots issued a “MAYDAY” call to air traffic control (ATC) shortly after takeoff, indicating an immediate and grave emergency. Tragically, there was no further response from the aircraft to subsequent calls from ATC.
Witnesses on the ground reported seeing the plane struggling to gain altitude, flying unusually low over the residential area of Meghani Nagar, close to the airport. Terrifying videos circulating on social media, some captured on airport CCTV, show the jet descending slowly before a massive explosion filled the sky as it impacted the ground. The plane crashed into a densely populated area, specifically a medical college’s residential quarters and hostel buildings. The heavy fuel load, typical for a long-haul flight, led to a massive fire and explosion upon impact, engulfing the wreckage and adjacent structures in flames.
Devastating Casualties and a Miracle Survivor
The crash resulted in an overwhelming loss of life. Ahmedabad’s police chief, GS Malik, initially stated there appeared to be no survivors from the aircraft and also confirmed casualties among local residents on the ground due to the impact. Later, a glimmer of hope emerged with the confirmation of one miraculous survivor: Ramesh Viswashkumar, aged around 40. In videos floating on social media, he could be seen walking towards an ambulance. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for critical medical care.
The final death count, distinguishing between those on board and those on the ground, will likely be confirmed after DNA testing and thorough forensic examination of the charred remains. The Indian Medical Association Gujarat confirmed the deaths of three MBBS students and reported that 45 others from the medical college hostel were hospitalised with injuries.
Among the confirmed fatalities from the aircraft was Vijay Rupanithe former chief minister of Gujarat (2016-2021), who was reportedly en route to London to meet his family. Those on board included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese.
Response and Investigation
Immediately following the crash, a massive emergency response was launched. Indian Army relief columns from the Golden Katar Division, along with six teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire engines, ambulances, and police units, were swiftly mobilised for rescue and recovery operations. Union home minister What Shah and civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu visited the crash site, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally monitoring the situation. The government is also constituting a high-level committee comprising experts from multiple disciplines to examine the matter in detail, to strengthen aviation safety, and prevent such incidents in the future.
Following the tragic incident in Ahmedabad, a formal investigation has been initiated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), in line with international protocols set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).Additionally, the Government is…
– ram mohan naidu kinjarapu (@rammnk) June 12, 2025
The PM described the incident as “heartbreaking beyond words,” confirming that rescue and relief efforts were already in motion. He said he’s been in close contact with civil aviation and emergency authorities, adding, “In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it.” The Prime Minister also pledged full government support for the victims’ families, calling for a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash. He is expected to visit Ahmedabad on Friday.
Expressing deep sorrow over the devastating loss of lives, Amit Shah assured that the government stands firmly with the families of the deceased, offering full support during this hour of unimaginable grief. The minister said that the fire spread so rapidly after the aircraft went down that “there was no chance to save anything.” He emphasised the severity of the impact and the immediate inferno that engulfed the wreckage, making rescue efforts nearly impossible in the initial moments.
Air India, in a statement, expressed its deep anguish and confirmed that Flight AI171 was “involved in an accident”. The airline stated it was fully cooperating with authorities and announced compensation of Rs 1 crore from the Tata Group (owners of Air India) to the families of each deceased victim, along with covering medical expenses for the injured and support for rebuilding the affected college hostel.
International assistance has also been offered. The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) formally offered its assistance, and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced it would send a team of investigators to India to support the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) India-led investigation.
Preliminary Insights into the Cause
While the official investigation is just beginning, and it is too early to determine the definitive cause, aviation experts have started to weigh in based on available footage and data. Some experts, like Geoffrey Thomas, noted that the aircraft’s undercarriage appeared to still be deployed in videos, while the flaps seemed to be retracted. This is considered “unusual” so soon after takeoff and could point towards a “possible error in the cockpit” or a mechanical issue. Another expert, Terry Tozer, similarly observed the apparent lack of flap extension, suggesting it “would be a perfectly obvious explanation for an aircraft not completing its take-off correctly”.
Other theories, such as “multiple bird hits” causing a loss of power in both engines, have also been suggested by former pilots, given the aircraft’s rapid descent shortly after becoming airborne. The fact that the plane made a “Mayday” call indicates that a problem was identified almost immediately.
This incident marks the first hull loss (total destruction) of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner since the model entered service in 2011, putting renewed scrutiny on Boeing, which has faced significant safety concerns and investigations related to its 737 MAX series in recent years. The black boxes (flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder) will be crucial in uncovering the precise sequence of events and the root cause of this devastating tragedy.
Boeing issued a statement on Thursday, expressing condolences and extending support to Air India and investigators.
In a post shared on social media platform X, Boeing Airplanes said: “We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected.”
(With agency inputs)
Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He trawls X via …Read More
Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He trawls X via … Read More
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