Ahmedabad, India – June 12, 2025 — Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The crash resulted in the deaths of at least 269 people, including passengers, crew members, and local residents.
According to official sources, the aircraft was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members when it lost control and struck a medical college hostel and a nearby residential area. The impact triggered a large fire and significant structural damage.
Authorities confirmed that 241 people on board and 28 people on the ground were killed. One survivor, a British national identified as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, was rescued with non-life-threatening injuries.
Rescue and recovery operations were carried out by teams from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), railway police, and local emergency services. Identification efforts are ongoing, with some requiring DNA confirmation.
The flight data recorder (black box) has been recovered and is being analyzed to determine the cause of the crash. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the investigation, with assistance from international bodies including the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Boeing, and GE Aerospace.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah visited the crash site and offered condolences. The Ministry of External Affairs referred to the crash as a “tragic accident” and assured ongoing support to affected families.
The Tata Group, which owns Air India, announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹1 crore (approximately USD 116,000) for the families of the deceased and committed to providing medical assistance to the injured. Boeing and GE Aerospace have pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
This incident marks one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India in recent years and has raised concerns about aircraft maintenance, fleet safety, and emergency response protocols.
