On 12 June 2025, tragedy unfolded near Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport when Air India Flight AI171 crashed just minutes after take-off. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was bound for London Gatwick. All 242 individuals on board — including 230 passengers and 12 crew members — are confirmed dead.
The plane took off at approximately 1:38 PM IST. Within five minutes, it crashed in the Meghani Nagar area, a densely populated locality near the airport. Eyewitnesses reported hearing explosions and seeing thick black smoke rising from the scene. Emergency crews rushed to the site, where fires continued to rage in the aftermath.
The crash has deeply shocked the nation. Among the passengers was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. According to sources, he was seated in business class, listed as passenger number 12. He was reportedly travelling to the UK to visit his wife and daughter. While multiple media outlets have reported his death, an official confirmation from the government was awaited at the time of this report.
Fire officer Jayesh Khadia confirmed that the aircraft was engulfed in flames. Several fire brigade teams and six units from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) arrived at the scene to control the blaze and assist in rescue efforts. Operations at the airport were temporarily suspended as emergency response took precedence.
Passenger nationalities have been identified as 169 Indian, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian. The crash also caused damage on the ground, striking a building reportedly used as a doctors’ hostel. Casualties on the ground have yet to be officially tallied.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. Early reports suggest the pilot issued a “Mayday” call shortly after take-off, indicating an onboard emergency. Given the aircraft was fully fuelled for the long-haul flight, the impact and resulting fire were devastating.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief and ordered immediate action. He is personally heading to Ahmedabad to oversee the situation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu have also been dispatched to support ongoing efforts.
Air India has set up emergency helplines for affected families and pledged to provide timely updates. The airline’s team is coordinating with airport authorities and the government to manage the situation and offer assistance to the bereaved.
This incident is being described as one of the worst aviation disasters in recent Indian history. As families mourn and investigators work to understand the cause, questions are being raised about aircraft safety, emergency protocols, and maintenance standards.
The nation is in mourning, united in shock and sorrow.
