Tragedy in Ahmedabad as over 200 killed in Air India plane crash

June 12, 2025 in Foreign News by Editor

More than 200 people have died after an Air India aircraft bound for the UK crashed into a residential complex in Ahmedabad on Thursday, in what is shaping up to be one of the country’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.

Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people, including 11 children, was en route to London Gatwick Airport when it came down shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at around 1:38pm local time.

The aircraft reportedly issued a mayday call to air traffic control moments before it lost radar contact at an altitude of just 625 feet. The plane crashed into a doctors’ residential hostel in Meghani Nagar, a densely populated suburb near the airport. Eyewitnesses reported a loud explosion followed by plumes of smoke as debris rained down on nearby buildings.

Grim recovery efforts underway

As of Thursday evening, over 100 charred bodies had been recovered and taken to the city’s government hospital for autopsy, according to local police officials. A senior officer at the crash site said up to 80pc of the building had been cleared as rescue operations continued through the wreckage.

Police and rescue teams described a devastating scene, with the aircraft’s tail wedged atop the building and parts of the fuselage scattered across the compound.

“We have heard there are at least 105 casualties,” said India’s Minister for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, in a televised statement. “Right now, the focus is on saving as many lives as possible.”

However, Ahmedabad’s Police Commissioner later told media that there “appears to be no survivors” from the aircraft itself, and confirmed that there were also casualties on the ground.

Passengers from multiple nations

According to Air India, those onboard included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. The flight was crewed by two pilots and 10 cabin staff.

Aviation authorities say the exact number of casualties remains to be confirmed, with some discrepancies reported. While Air India said 242 people were onboard, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation put the number at 244.

Investigation to Follow

There is no immediate indication of what caused the crash. Preliminary data from Flightradar24 shows the aircraft failed to gain significant altitude before disappearing from tracking systems. Aviation experts note that takeoff is one of the riskiest phases of flight, but stress that the Boeing 787 is one of the most advanced commercial aircraft in operation.

The weather in Ahmedabad at the time of takeoff was reported to be clear and stable, removing adverse conditions as an immediate suspect.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air India have launched a formal investigation, and a black box recovery team is expected at the site shortly. Boeing has yet to comment.

Nation in Mourning

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media, calling the incident “a profound tragedy” and promising a full investigation. “My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. Rescue efforts are ongoing and every resource is being deployed,” he said.

The crash marks one of the gravest disasters in Indian aviation since the 2010 Air India Express crash in Mangalore, which killed 158 people.