Shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on the afternoon of June 12, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, Flight AI-171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed. For its lengthy flight to London, the aircraft, which was carrying 242 people—232 passengers and 10 crew members—was extensively fueled.
The flight left a little later than planned, at approximately 1:47 p.m. The plane was observed flying abnormally low and having difficulty gaining altitude within minutes of takeoff. The jet crashed into a medical college doctor’s hostel in the Meghani Nagar district at around 1:38 pm, causing a huge explosion and a fireball, with thick black smoke visible in the distance. Significant damage resulted from the hit; debris pierced the dining hall walls of the hostel, and five students sadly died within.
Eyewitnesses reported a loud explosion as the aircraft hit the ground. Video footage captured the plane’s final moments, showing its failed attempt to climb before slamming into the ground. The crash occurred at a very low altitude—825 feet—after the pilot had sent out a mayday call. There was no further response from the cockpit after this distress signal.
Rapid action was taken by emergency services, such as ambulances, local fire departments, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams. Rescue efforts were severely hampered by the fire’s severity, which was exacerbated by the aircraft’s full tanks. To speed up the transfer of injured people to surrounding hospitals, a green corridor was created and at least two dozen ambulances were sent out.
To aid rescue and investigative efforts, flight operations at Ahmedabad airport were halted until further notice. A official inquiry has been launched by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and technical teams from Boeing are anticipated to help identify the cause of the disaster.
Air India acknowledged the event and conveyed “profound sorrow” for the loss, highlighting that their top priorities are helping emergency response teams and supporting impacted families. For families looking for information, support teams and an emergency center have been established.
“Heartbreaking beyond words,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said of the incident, while Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said he is personally keeping an eye on it and ordering all agencies to move quickly and cooperatively. Bhupendra Patel, the chief minister of Gujarat, also sent orders for urgent rescue and medical assistance.
This crash marks the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, an aircraft known for its advanced technology and strong safety record. The incident is one of the worst aviation disasters in India in recent years, with casualties feared both on board and on the ground.
Authorities are currently focused on rescue and relief operations, with the DGCA and Boeing technical teams set to thoroughly investigate the circumstances leading to the crash. More updates are expected as officials verify details and continue their response efforts.
A catastrophic aviation tragedy, the Air India Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad claimed a great number of lives and prompted a massive emergency reaction. All agencies have been dispatched to provide aid and investigate the reason of the catastrophic failure that occurred shortly after takeoff.
