On Thursday, 12 June, an Air India flight bound for Britain crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad. Initial reports suggest fears of multiple deaths among passengers and crew members on board.
According to available information, Air India Flight AI171 departed at 1:38 PM from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The flight was scheduled for a nine-hour journey to London’s Gatwick Airport. However, just minutes after takeoff, around 1:40 PM, the aircraft crashed near Meghani Nagar in Ahmedabad. The plane was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was commanded by Captain Sumit Sabharwal, with Clive Kunder as co-pilot. On board were 232 passengers, including 230 adults and 2 infants, along with 12 crew members, totaling 242 individuals. Following the crash near Meghani Nagar in Ahmedabad, emergency response teams at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport were swiftly mobilized. Dense black smoke rising from the wreckage was visible from a significant distance, heightening panic in the residential area. The DAW, ADAW, and one FOI, who were in Ahmedabad for other tasks, have started collecting detailed information about the incident while rescue and relief operations remain ongoing.
Meghani Nagar is a residential area, and the sudden crash spread panic throughout the locality. Thick black smoke billowed from the wreckage, engulfing the surroundings. Local residents, police, and fire brigade teams rushed to the scene to assist with rescue operations and manage the situation. Videos of the incident were shared widely on social media.
Preliminary estimates suggest between 133 and 242 people, including passengers and crew, were on board, though an exact figure is yet to be confirmed. In a statement posted on X (Twitter), Air India said: “Flight AI171, operating between Ahmedabad and London Gatwick, was involved in an accident today, 12 June. We are currently assessing the situation and will provide further updates on airindia.com and our X handle.”
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik stated that the city police are investigating the incident. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also launched an inquiry into the crash.
The precise cause of the accident remains unknown. A technical fault during flight is a possible factor. Reliable details are likely to emerge only after the aircraft’s black box is recovered. The Boeing Dreamliner is generally regarded as having a strong safety record. Further information will clarify the reasons behind this tragic outcome for the London-bound flight.
