In one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s history, Air India Flight AI 171 crashed on June 12, 2025, shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was en route to London Gatwick and had 242 people on board, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members.
The plane took off around 1:38 PM IST and lost contact with air traffic control within a minute. Moments later, it crashed into a residential hostel building in the Meghani Nagar area, which is part of the B.J. Medical College campus. A massive fire broke out following the crash, and the impact caused widespread destruction in the neighborhood.
Only one person, identified as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British-Indian national seated in 11A, survived the crash. He is currently hospitalized in stable condition. All other passengers and crew on board have been confirmed dead. In addition to the onboard fatalities, the crash killed at least 28 people on the ground and injured many others.
Rescue teams from the NDRF, army, BSF, fire department, and local police have been working tirelessly at the site. One of the two black boxes has been recovered, and efforts are underway to locate the second. The crash site has been cordoned off for forensic analysis and recovery of remains, with DNA testing being used to identify victims.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah visited the site and the survivor at the hospital. Modi called it a national tragedy and assured full support to the victims’ families. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, along with Tata Group, announced ₹1 crore compensation for each deceased passenger’s family and promised full support for ongoing medical care and repatriation efforts.
International aviation authorities, including the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), the US NTSB and FAA, Boeing, and GE Aerospace, are assisting with the investigation. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is leading the inquiry into what caused the aircraft to crash just seconds after takeoff.
The Ahmedabad airport suspended operations for several hours following the incident but has since resumed limited services. While questions remain about the cause of the crash, this tragedy has sent shockwaves through the nation and the global aviation community.
(with agency inputs)
