Air India London-bound flight crashes after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport
NOOR MOHMMED
12/Jun/2025

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Air India Boeing Dreamliner flight AI171 with 242 onboard crashes in Meghani Nagar shortly after takeoff
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DGCA confirms crash occurred five minutes after departure from runway 23 at Ahmedabad airport
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Gujarat CM, Union Home Minister coordinate relief efforts, Air India confirms incident on social media
Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025 – A major aviation disaster struck India on Thursday afternoon when an Air India Boeing Dreamliner, operating Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed just minutes after takeoff, with 242 people on board, including 12 crew members.
The tragic incident occurred around 1:44 PM, merely five minutes after the aircraft departed from runway 23 of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The aircraft crashed into the Meghani Nagar area, a densely populated residential zone, located close to the airport premises.
Official Confirmation and Initial Reports
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a statement confirming that Air India B787 aircraft VT-ANB was involved in a crash immediately after takeoff. The flight, commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal with First Officer Clive Kunder, was en route to London Gatwick Airport.
Onboard were 242 persons, including:
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2 pilots
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10 cabin crew
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230 passengers
Visuals and Ground Impact
Visuals from the crash site flooded social media platforms, showing massive plumes of smoke, scattered debris, and flames erupting from the site. Local residents were among the first responders, attempting to assist survivors before rescue and fire teams reached the location.
Emergency services including:
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NDRF (National Disaster Response Force)
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Fire Brigades
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Gujarat Police
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Local Ambulance units
were rushed to the crash site within minutes of the disaster. The exact number of survivors or fatalities has not yet been officially confirmed at the time of reporting.
Government Response and Investigation
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who was in Surat at the time, immediately rushed to Ahmedabad to take stock of the situation. He also held emergency meetings with local administrative and police officials.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken with:
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Gujarat Chief Minister
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Gujarat Home Minister
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Ahmedabad Police Commissioner
He assured all possible support from the central government, including coordination with DGCA, CISF, and aviation authorities.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation, in consultation with the DGCA and Air India, has initiated a high-level investigation into the cause of the crash. Aircraft black box retrieval and technical audits of the flight systems are expected to begin soon.
Statement from Air India
Air India confirmed the incident on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle:
"Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad–London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. We are ascertaining details and will share updates shortly. Our thoughts are with all those affected."
Aircraft Details
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Aircraft Model: Boeing 787 Dreamliner
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Registration Number: VT-ANB
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Aircraft Age: Over 9 years
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Maintenance Status: Yet to be disclosed by Air India
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Recent Service Record: Not publicly available as of now
The Dreamliner is known for its fuel efficiency, long-haul capability, and is considered one of the safer wide-body aircraft models in commercial aviation.
Possible Causes Under Review
While preliminary investigations are underway, aviation experts have pointed to three likely areas of scrutiny:
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Engine failure during takeoff
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Bird strike or foreign object ingestion
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Technical malfunction within avionics or power systems
The Air Traffic Control (ATC) transcript, pilot cockpit communication, and black box data will be key to determining what went wrong during those crucial five minutes post-takeoff.
Passenger Information and Helpline
Air India has not yet released the official passenger manifest, but it is expected to include domestic and international travellers, including families and foreign nationals.
Helplines are being set up by Air India and Gujarat authorities for relatives of passengers. The Air India emergency support team has been deployed at both Ahmedabad and London Gatwick airports.
Previous Incidents and Context
While Air India has not reported a fatal commercial aircraft crash in years, this incident marks one of the gravest aviation disasters in recent times for the airline.
In August 2020, an Air India Express flight crash-landed in Kozhikode, resulting in multiple fatalities. Thursday’s incident could lead to:
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Comprehensive safety audits of Air India’s fleet
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International aviation scrutiny of Indian airspace and protocols
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Regulatory action depending on investigation outcome
Conclusion
This catastrophic incident has sent shockwaves across the aviation industry and the country. With over 242 lives impacted, including flight crew and passengers, the focus now lies on rescue, recovery, and a transparent investigation.
The nation awaits updates on survivors, casualties, and the reasons behind the crash, even as rescue operations continue into the evening.
Further updates from DGCA, Air India, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation are expected in the coming hours.
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