Ahmedabad plane crash: What we know so far

Dubai: An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport crashed at 1:38pm on Thursday, shortly after takeoff.

Flight AI171 was carrying 242 people, including 232 passengers and 10 crew members, when it went down minutes after departing from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

The aircraft crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar approximately five minutes after takeoff.

Air India released details about those on board. According to the airline, the nationalities of those onboard include:

• 169 Indian nationals

• 53 British nationals

• 1 Canadian national

• 7 Portuguese nationals

A Mayday call was issued shortly before the crash and then there was silence, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Preliminary data from Flightradar24 indicates the aircraft had reached an altitude of 625 feet at a speed of 174 km/h before it suddenly lost altitude.

Several injured individuals are being transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Air India has set up a dedicated passenger hotline at 1800 5691 444 for information related to those on board. The airline has urged media personnel not to contact this number, and instead use the designated media contact at +91 9821414954 for queries.

Air India is fully cooperating with authorities in the ongoing investigation and will provide regular updates via its official X handle and on airindia.com.

Air India’s fleet includes 128 aircraft from Airbus SE and Boeing, according to the carrier’s website.

The 787 Dreamliner is a widebody, twin-engine plane. This is the first crash ever of a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.

The aircraft was introduced in 2009 and more than 1,000 have been delivered to dozens of airlines, according to the flightradar24 website.

Air India confirmed the incident in a brief statement: “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.”

Visuals from the crash site show a dense column of grey smoke rising above the area. More than two dozen ambulances have been deployed, and access routes around the airport and crash zone have been cordoned off to ensure emergency teams can operate without obstruction.

Traffic diversions have been implemented to manage congestion.

The Civil Aviation Ministry is monitoring the situation closely. Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said: “Shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad. We are on the highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action. Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support reach the site. My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families.”

London Gatwick Airport also issued a statement: “We can confirm that flight AI171, which crashed on departure from Ahmedabad Airport today, was scheduled to land at London Gatwick at 18:25.”

Tata Group, which owns Air India, expressed deep sorrow.
Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran said: “With profound sorrow, I confirm that Air India Flight 171, operating Ahmedabad–London Gatwick, was involved in a tragic accident today. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event.”

He added: “Our primary focus is on supporting all affected individuals and their families. We are working closely with emergency response teams at the site and providing all necessary assistance. An emergency centre has been activated, and support teams are available to help families seeking information. Further verified updates will be shared as soon as possible.”

India has suffered a series of fatal air crashes, including a 1996 disaster when two jets collided mid-air over New Delhi, killing nearly 350 people.

In 2010 an Air India Express jet crashed and burst into flames at Mangalore airport in southwest India, killing 158 of the 166 passengers and crew on board.

Decades earlier, an Air India Boeing 747 flying from Montreal to London in June 1985 crashed into the sea off Ireland with 329 people on board and leaving no survivors.

An Indian commission determined that militant Sikhs had planted a bomb in baggage being carried by the plane.