By Air India Flight AI171 Crash
Over 200 confirmed dead
Summary
- Boeing 787 Dreamliner goes down minutes after takeoff, marking the model’s first crash
- At least one survivor pulled from wreckage; many victims from the impacted doctors’ hostel
- Rescue and recovery operations continue as investigations focus on possible power failure
Ahmedabad, India — Tragedy struck in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, when Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
The aircraft was carrying 242 people, 230 passengers and 12 crew, when it issued a “Mayday” distress call before plummeting into the Meghani Nagar area, directly impacting a doctors’ hostel.
According to Flightradar24 data, the plane reached only 625 feet before descending rapidly at a rate of 475 feet per minute. Preliminary findings suggest a possible power failure, though no signs of explosion have been reported.
The aircraft’s black box has been recovered and is expected to provide crucial information, even as more than 200 bodies have been recovered, including 30–35 from the residential building it struck.
A 38-year-old man, identified as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, was rescued alive in critical condition—contradicting initial reports of no survivors. Several on the ground, including students, were also injured.
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the passengers confirmed dead. The crash has prompted widespread mourning, with political leaders across India and the UK expressing condolences. Social media has been flooded with tributes under the hashtag #AI171Crash.
Six National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and two Border Security Force (BSF) teams were deployed for rescue operations.
Ahmedabad Airport was briefly closed but has since resumed operations. Tata Group, which owns Air India, pledged full support for affected families, and the airline has issued helplines as the investigation continues.
