On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, en route to London Gatwick Airport, United Kingdom. The flight was carrying 242 passengers and crew members, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian national, and seven Portuguese nationals. The aircraft, registered as VT-ANB, crashed into the Meghani Nagar residential area near the airport, specifically impacting a medical college hostel, resulting in a massive fire and explosion due to the plane being heavily fueled for the long-haul journey.
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik reported that there were likely no survivors among the 242 people on board, with 204 bodies recovered, including some from the ground where the plane crashed. Additionally, at least five medical students at the hostel were killed, and 41 injured individuals were taken to hospitals, though their survival chances were reported as low. The crash site showed significant destruction, with the plane’s tail lodged in a building and thick black smoke rising from the wreckage. Emergency response teams, including the Indian Army, NDRF, CRPF, and Coast Guards, were deployed, and rescue operations continued with DNA testing arranged to identify victims.
The aircraft, piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal (8,200 hours of experience) and First Officer Clive Kunder (1,100 hours), issued a “mayday” call seconds before the crash, which occurred at 1:38 p.m. local time, five minutes after takeoff. This was the first fatal crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its introduction in 2011 and Air India’s first major hull loss since the 1985 bombing of Flight 182. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) noted the plane fell outside the airport perimeter, and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating, examining flight data, black box recordings, and crash site evidence. Boeing acknowledged the incident and is assessing information, with its stock falling 8% in pre-market trading.
Notable passengers included former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, as confirmed by BJP officials. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and King Charles III expressed condolences, with Modi describing the tragedy as “heartbreaking beyond words.” The airport suspended all operations, and emergency helplines were established. The investigation is ongoing, with potential causes including pilot error, mechanical failure, or external factors, though stable weather conditions were reported. This crash, the deadliest in India since 2020, has renewed scrutiny of aviation safety and Boeing’s safety record.
