Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025 – A devastating air crash shook the city this afternoon when Air India Flight AI171, bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was carrying approximately 232 passengers and crew on board.
The crash occurred around 1:17 PM, moments after the aircraft lifted off. Eyewitnesses in the Meghaninagar and Dharpur areas reported hearing a loud boom followed by thick plumes of smoke billowing from the crash site. Several nearby residents rushed out of their homes as debris fell across rooftops.
Fire brigade units, emergency medical teams, and disaster response forces were immediately deployed to the site. Rescue operations were ongoing as of this evening, with reports confirming that at least 14 people have been recovered, five of them injured and receiving treatment at local hospitals. Search teams are still trying to locate additional survivors, including four crew members believed to be missing.
Preliminary indications suggest the pilot issued a Mayday call moments before the aircraft lost altitude and crashed. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a formal investigation into the incident. Officials are examining flight data to determine whether mechanical failure, pilot error, or other factors may have contributed.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who hails from Gujarat, spoke directly with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel following the crash. Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu is en route to the crash site and is expected to meet with rescue officials and hold a briefing later today.
Air India has acknowledged the crash and expressed “deep sorrow” for the tragic event, stating that it is cooperating fully with emergency responders and aviation authorities. The airline has activated an emergency helpline for families of passengers and crew members.
The tragedy has evoked memories of the 1988 Indian Airlines Flight 113 crash near Ahmedabad, which killed 133 people. Today’s incident, occurring nearly 37 years later, has once again cast a spotlight on air safety and infrastructure preparedness in India.
As the nation awaits official casualty figures and more clarity on the cause, the focus remains on rescue operations and providing support to those affected by one of India’s most horrifying air disasters in recent memory.
