Ahmedabad: An Air India Dreamliner en route to London’s Gatwick Airport crashed into a residential area near Meghani Nagar just five minutes after take-off from Ahmedabad at 1:38 PM on Thursday. The flight, AI171, was carrying 242 people including 12 crew members.
Among the passengers were 169 Indian, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian national. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is suspected to have been on board, though official confirmation is awaited.
The aircraft, which departed from runway 23, issued a MAYDAY call to Air Traffic Control before losing all communication. “It gave a MAYDAY Call to ATC, but thereafter, no response was given by the aircraft to the calls made by ATC,” said aviation officials. Ahmedabad Airport was shut down immediately following the incident.
Visuals captured by local residents showed plumes of dark smoke rising from the crash site. Emergency services rushed to the area as fire and rescue operations began.
#WATCH | Thick smoke billows from the Air India plane crash site in Gujarat's Ahmedabad pic.twitter.com/NsCGenhPGw
— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken stock of the situation. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu is heading to Ahmedabad to assess the situation. “Shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad. We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action,” he posted on X. “Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site. My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families,” he added.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel posted on X, “I am deeply saddened by the accident of the Air India passenger plane crash in Ahmedabad. I have instructed the officials to take immediate rescue and relief operations in the accident and to make arrangements for immediate treatment of the injured passengers on a war footing. I have also instructed to arrange a green corridor to take the injured passengers for treatment and to ensure all the treatment arrangements in the hospital on priority. The Hon’ble Union Home Minister Amitbhai Shah has also spoken to me and assured full support of the NDRF teams and the Central Government for the rescue and relief operations in this plane crash.”
Air India, operated by Tata Group, issued a statement through its chairman N Chandrasekaran, which was shared on X. “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. At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families. We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted,” he said.
“Further updates will be shared as we receive more verified information. An emergency centre has been activated and support team have been set up for families seeking information,” the chairman added.
Following the crash, Boeing shares dropped by 7.8 percent to $197.30 in U.S. premarket trading on Thursday. The aircraft involved was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
BI Bureau
