air india plane crashes ahmedabad
Incident Overview
On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (registration VT-ANB), crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) in Ahmedabad, India, en route to London Gatwick Airport, United Kingdom. The aircraft, carrying 242 people (230 passengers, 2 pilots, and 10 cabin crew), plunged into the Meghani Nagar residential area near the airport, triggering a massive explosion and fire. The crash occurred at approximately 1:43 PM IST, five minutes after departure at 1:38 PM IST. This incident marks the first crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its introduction in 2011.
Aircraft and Crew Details
- Aircraft: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, tail number VT-ANB, operated by Air India, with a capacity of around 300 passengers. The aircraft was heavily fueled for the long-haul flight, contributing to the intensity of the fire.
- Crew:
- Cabin Crew: 10 members, names not disclosed in initial reports.
- Passengers: 230 passengers, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 1 Canadian national, and 7 Portuguese nationals. Among them were 217 adults and 11 children. Unconfirmed reports suggest former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was onboard, seated in 2D.
Sequence of Events
- Takeoff: Flight AI171 departed from Runway 23 at SVPIA at 1:38 PM IST (08:08 UTC).
- Mayday Call: The pilots issued a “Mayday” call to Air Traffic Control (ATC) shortly after takeoff, indicating an emergency. No further response was received from the aircraft despite repeated ATC calls.
- Altitude Loss: The aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 825 feet before rapidly descending. Flightradar24 reported the last signal at 625 feet, seconds after takeoff.
- Crash: The plane crashed into the Meghani Nagar area, specifically impacting a doctors’ hostel, causing a massive fireball and thick black smoke visible from areas like Dharpur and Vastrapur. Debris was scattered across residential structures, intensifying rescue challenges.
- Weather Conditions: Stable and clear, with light surface winds, six kilometers visibility, and no reported wind shear, storms, or adverse phenomena, ruling out weather as a contributing factor.
Immediate Response
- Emergency Services:
- Seven fire engines, ambulances, and police units were dispatched immediately. Six National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams (90 personnel from Gandhinagar and additional teams from Vadodara) were mobilized for rescue operations.
- Local residents assisted in initial rescue efforts. A green corridor was established to transport the injured to hospitals.
- Government Action:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, directing them to visit Ahmedabad and ensure comprehensive assistance.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah coordinated with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and Ahmedabad Police Commissioner, assuring full central government support.
- Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel ordered urgent rescue and relief operations, prioritizing medical treatment for the injured.
- Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu rushed to Ahmedabad to monitor operations, stating the government was on “highest alert.”
- Airport Operations: SVPIA suspended all flight operations indefinitely, causing delays for flights to and from Ahmedabad.
- Helplines:
Casualties and Survivors
- India’s Federal Health Minister confirmed “many people” were killed, but exact casualty figures remain unconfirmed.
- Sources cited by Hindustan Times indicated slim chances of survivors due to the crash’s severity and fire intensity.
- The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, with no specific survivor count reported.
Investigation
- Authorities Involved: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India are leading the investigation. A technical team was dispatched to the site.
- Boeing’s Role: Boeing acknowledged the incident and is gathering information, with potential involvement in the probe. The crash led to a 6.8% drop in Boeing shares to $199.13 in pre-market trading.
- Preliminary Suspicions: Unconfirmed reports suggest a possible engineering fault following recent refurbishing, but no official cause has been determined.
- Data Sources: Flightradar24 and ATC communications are being analyzed to reconstruct the flight path and final moments.
Impact and Statements
- Tata Group: Owners of Air India, expressed profound sorrow and committed to supporting victims.
- Adani Group: Operators of SVPIA, expressed condolences and worked with authorities. Chairman Gautam Adani posted on X about the tragedy.
- International Response:
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed devastation, noting the significant number of British nationals onboard. The UK Foreign Office offered consular assistance via 020 7008 5000.
- House of Commons Leader Lucy Powell: Assured full UK government support.
- London Gatwick Airport: Confirmed the flight was scheduled to land at 18:25.
- Indian Leaders:
- Public Reaction: Videos and images of the crash site, showing debris and smoke, circulated widely on social media, prompting condolences from celebrities like Sunny Deol, Parineeti Chopra, and Riteish Deshmukh.
