Air India Flight to London Crashes Near Ahmedabad Airport; All 242 Onboard Feared Dead, Nation Mourns
Ahmedabad, June 12 – In one of the most devastating aviation disasters in recent Indian history, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft bound for London’s Gatwick airport crashed on Thursday afternoon shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft, operating as flight AI171, was carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers, two pilots, and ten crew members. The crash occurred within minutes of takeoff, in the premises of BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital, located near the airport.
As per agency report, officials fear that there may be no survivors, although an official death toll has not yet been confirmed. Visuals from the site showed a massive fireball and thick black smoke rising from the crash scene, as emergency responders rushed to the site for rescue and evacuation efforts. According to aviation sources, the aircraft had climbed only 600 to 800 feet before nosediving and crashing. The pilot had issued a "Mayday" distress call to air traffic control at 1:39 PM, but no further communication was received after that.
The aircraft, which was 11 years old, reportedly crashed into a residential area within the BJ Medical College campus, damaging several buildings, scorching trees, and destroying nearby vehicles. The tail section of the plane was seen crashing into the upper floors of what is believed to be a dining area in a hostel for nurses and medical students. Witnesses said the impact was followed by a massive fire, affecting nearby five-storey apartment buildings and causing injuries to residents as well.
Among the passengers was former Gujarat Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Rupani, whose death was confirmed by party president C R Patil. Rupani, known for his calm demeanor and firm governance, had served as Chief Minister from 2016 to 2021 and played a significant role during Gujarat’s COVID-19 response.
The flight was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals. The black box (flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder) is being searched to determine the cause of the crash. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft lost contact shortly after issuing the emergency call and crashed outside the airport perimeter.
This is the first major crash involving a Boeing Dreamliner in India and the deadliest since 2020, when an Air India Express flight crash-landed in Kozhikode, resulting in 21 deaths. Thursday’s tragedy led to the temporary suspension of operations at the Ahmedabad airport, which have since been resumed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief on X, stating that the tragedy is "heart-wrenching and beyond words." He added that he is in touch with ministers and officials overseeing rescue operations. President Droupadi Murmu also offered her condolences, saying that the nation stands with the affected families in this time of sorrow.
International leaders, including King Charles III of the United Kingdom, expressed shock and sympathy. Buckingham Palace issued a statement calling the incident a “horrific accident,” with the British government offering to assist Indian authorities in investigation and support efforts. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the crash as "horrific," especially given the presence of several British nationals on the flight.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Ahmedabad to assess the situation, while Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu visited the crash site and is personally monitoring rescue and relief operations. He confirmed that DGCA, AAI, Air India, NDRF, and local authorities are working together for coordinated response efforts.
DGCA later released a statement confirming that the aircraft was under the command of Captain Sumit Sabharwal, an experienced pilot with over 8,200 flying hours, accompanied by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours. The plane took off from runway 23 and crashed moments later outside the airport boundary.
Eyewitness Haresh Shah reported that the aircraft was flying dangerously low before striking residential quarters housing doctors and nurses. Several buildings caught fire, and residents suffered injuries due to both the crash and ensuing blaze.
Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran, who also heads the Tata Group, confirmed the crash and assured that all necessary support is being extended to victims and their families. He emphasized that the airline is assisting emergency responders and will do everything possible to support those affected.
Aircraft manufacturer Boeing issued a brief statement acknowledging the incident and said it is gathering more information. Air India has activated a passenger helpline at 1800 5691 444 for families seeking information.
This marks the second major aviation tragedy in Ahmedabad’s history. The previous one occurred on October 19, 1988, when an Indian Airlines flight crashed at the city’s airport, killing 130 people.
As the nation mourns, rescue efforts continue through the night amid rising questions about the cause of the crash. Authorities are expected to release a detailed investigation report in the coming days.
