On June 12, 2025, a devastating aviation tragedy struck India when Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, registered VT-ANB and carrying 242 people—230 passengers and 12 crew—issued a Mayday call barely a minute after liftoff, reaching only about 625 feet in altitude before disappearing from radar. Moments later, it crashed into a residential doctors’ hostel in the Meghani Nagar area of Ahmedabad, triggering a massive explosion and fire that engulfed the neighborhood.
The impact and subsequent fire claimed the lives of at least 133 people, with many more feared dead. Rescue operations have recovered over 30 bodies so far, and emergency teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire services, and police, are continuing search and recovery efforts at the crash site. Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian. Tragically, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was also confirmed to be among the passengers on board.
Authorities swiftly suspended operations at Ahmedabad airport and mobilized all emergency resources. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief, calling the crash “heartbreaking beyond words,” and directed immediate relief and investigation measures. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also conveyed his condolences, especially given the significant number of British lives lost. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated that a full investigation has been launched, and India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), along with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and technical experts from Air India and Boeing, are involved in determining the cause of the crash.
The Boeing 787-8 involved was about 11 years old and was one of Air India’s long-haul fleet aircraft. This accident marks not only Air India’s first fatal hull loss (excluding the Air India Express crash in 2020) but also the first-ever fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner anywhere in the world. Given the aircraft’s full fuel load for the long-haul journey, the explosion upon impact was particularly severe, complicating recovery operations and posing significant challenges for emergency personnel.
As investigations continue, the country remains in mourning, and aviation authorities worldwide are closely monitoring the findings from what is now one of India’s deadliest air disasters in recent years.
