Ahmedabad, India – June 12, 2025 – A tragic aviation disaster unfolded early Thursday morning when Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The flight, bound for London Gatwick, was carrying 242 people, 230 passengers and 12 crew members, when it went down in the Meghani Nagar residential area just five minutes after departure.
The aircraft’s last known altitude was approximately 625 feet before the crew issued a distress “Mayday” call. It then crashed into a doctors’ hostel within a hospital complex, embedding its tail section into the building’s roof and igniting a massive rescue operation.
Authorities have so far confirmed between 30 and 35 fatalities, though officials warn the death toll may rise as search teams continue to comb through the wreckage. Rescue workers report that 70 to 80 percent of the crash site has been cleared, and efforts are ongoing to locate potential survivors.
Passengers onboard included 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian. The identities of the deceased have not yet been released.
This marks the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft was introduced in 2011. India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have launched a full investigation, with cooperation from Air India and Boeing. Officials are expected to analyze black box recordings and flight data to determine the cause of the disaster.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy, calling it a “dark day for the nation.” The UK’s Prime Minister also extended condolences and pledged support. Prominent Bollywood actors, including Vicky Kaushal and Janhvi Kapoor, have taken to social media to share their grief.
All flight operations at Ahmedabad Airport have been temporarily suspended pending a comprehensive safety review.
As rescue and recovery efforts continue, families of victims and the international aviation community await answers to what caused this devastating crash, the first to shatter the Dreamliner’s near-perfect safety record.
Written By Rodney Mbua
