Air India flight to London crashes near Ahmedabad airport, 242 onboard

In a devastating aviation tragedy on Thursday, an Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after take-off near Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft, operating as flight AI171 with 230 passengers and 12 crew on board, went down in the densely populated Meghaninagar area, sending thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky.

"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," said an Air India spokesperson.

The crash occurred just minutes after takeoff, triggering panic in the neighbourhood. Visuals from the site show heavy smoke and flames dangerously close to residential buildings.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to Gujarat's Chief Minister and senior officials. Further updates are awaited as authorities continue to assess the situation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also closely monitoring the situation.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operated by Air India, bearing the registration VT-ANB, vanished from radar shortly after issuing a "Mayday" call, the international distress signal for life-threatening emergencies.

Flight AI171, bound for London Gatwick, lost contact at 08:08 UTC (13:38 IST), less than a minute after take-off and just 625 feet above ground, according to flight tracking platform Flightradar24. The signal cut off abruptly, sparking immediate concern.

Emergency services reached the presumed crash site within minutes. Over two dozen ambulances were dispatched and local police cordoned off the area, redirecting traffic to facilitate rescue operations, according to multiple reports.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu said he has directed all aviation and emergency teams to respond with urgency and coordination.

Air India confirmed the flight was carrying 230 passengers, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. "The injured are being rushed to nearby hospitals," the airline said in a statement. A dedicated helpline — 1800 5691 444 — has been set up for families and loved ones.

The Dreamliner involved in the incident was delivered to Air India in January 2014 and first took to the skies on December 14, 2013. Investigations are now underway into what led to the mid-air emergency.

The ill-fated aircraft was captained by Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with over 8,200 hours of flying experience. He was assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar, who has logged 1,100 flight hours.