This afternoon, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with the registration number AI171 crashed soon after taking off Ahmedabad bound to London, Gatwick Airport. The plane had 232 passengers and 10 members of the crew. In its flight, the aircraft was only able to reach a maximum speed of 174 knots (322 km/hr).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the incident as one which is heartbreaking beyond words.
We are shocked and grieved by the tragedy in Ahmedabad. It is pitiable. During this mourning time, I am thinking about all the people that are involved in it. The Prime Minister said in a statement that she has been in contact with Ministers and authorities that are seeking to help those affected.
The crash happened between 1 pm and 2 pm local time, and it is said that the aircraft lost altitude shortly after takeoff. Miraculously, one of the passengers sitting on the 11 th row and A seat in the aircraft survived the crash. People saw him walking out of the crash.
Preliminary reports indicated that the aircraft had attained about 625 feet when it all of a sudden lost altitude. A newly developed video whose length was 59 seconds indicated that the aircraft was flying out of the runway 23 and was airborne just 32 seconds when it crashed in the residential place.
The plane has hit a hostel of doctors linked to a medical college killing five students and injuring some others, government and airline officials confirmed. Pictures indicated that there was debris in the dining area of the hostel and some of the dining tables still had food on the plates when the incident occurred.
Video of the plane indicates that it was flying at a dangerously low height and seems to be having difficulties generating lift. The video shows the moment of its impact with the ground, which led to a huge fireball. It was around 1.38 pm when the crash happened.
A few seconds after the takeoff, the pilot is said to have sent a distress signal. Reports suggest that no contact existed between the cockpit and air traffic controllers following the first mayday call. Air India announced the incident in a short communication: Flight AI171, Ahmedabad-London Gatwick was involved in the incident today, 12 June 2025. We are currently determining the facts, and will provide more information as soon as possible.
The flight had taken off Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs with 242 passengers and crew on board the Boeing 787-8 airliner. Among these, 169 are Indians, 53 are British, 1 Canadian and 7 Portuguese nationals.Air India has established a special passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 to give further details.
Images filmed at the scene depict a thick plume of grey smoke billowing over the impacted site. Emergency response, at least two dozen of ambulances were rushed to the scene. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the passengers travelling on board the Air India flight.
Authorities have blocked the access ways into the airport and the nearby crash site to give the emergency services free access. Traffic diversions to control traffic congestion around the site have been introduced. The medical corps of the Indian Army too has contributed in the relief effort,and is working alongside the local police and fire brigade.
Civil Aviation Ministry was keeping a close watch on the situation. Shortly after the incident, Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu released a statement: “Shocked and devastated to know about the flight crash in Ahmedabad. We are at our top alert. I am following the situation personally and have instructed all the aviation and emergency response agencies to act swiftly and in a coordinated manner. Rescue teams are mobilised and everything possible is being done to see that medical aid and relief support is being rushed to the site.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated: “The footage coming out of a plane with many British nationals on board landing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad and catching fire is terrible. I am being informed as the situation evolves and my prayers are with the passengers and their families during this very difficult period.”
The London Gatwick Airport also made its own statement: “We can confirm that flight AI171 that crashed on departure out of Ahmedabad Airport today was bound to land at London Gatwick at 18:25.”The Tata Group which owns Air India made a statement. N Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Air India said, “It is with deep regret that I am able to confirm that there was a tragic accident today involving Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick. We are thinking of and send our utmost condolences to the families and loved ones of all the people affected by this terrible tragedy.
Our main priority at the given moment is to take care of all the affected individuals, as well as their families. The emergency response teams are doing everything under their power to help people on the site and to provide all the assistance and care needed to those affected. We will continue to provide updates as we get more confirmed information.
Mr Chandrasekaran added: An emergency centre has been activated and a family information support team have been established. Air India Flight 171 tragedy is something that has shocked and saddened us. We are sending our prayers to the families that have lost an unimaginable loss. Industrialist Gautam Adani remarked, in a statement, that they were cooperating with all authorities and providing all possible assistance to the families on the ground.
32 Seconds Of Horror: Video Shows Air India Flight Trying To Take Off, Crashing Into Building
A fresh video that was taken by a CCTV camera at the Ahmedabad airport depicts that the Air India plane was gathering speed on the runway and then it took off and to the human eye there was nothing wrong that could be seen.
TheBoering 787-8 Dreamliner, which is among the most dependable passenger planes globally, lifted off a few seconds later. Up to that moment it was uneventful.
The following several seconds, nevertheless, showed that the plane might be having problems because it failed to acquire the altitude that is normally expected of a passenger plane of this size and model.
It continued Horizontally some seconds and then began to drop. At that point the visuals were shouting it out – the flight was not going to make it.
The Air India airliner with 242 people on board crashed into a doctors hostel of a medical college, some distance before the end of the runaway.
Only one passenger has been confirmed survived by rescuers. It also killed five people in the hostel.
The CCTV footage of the Ahmedabad airport recorded an extremely short flight of 32 seconds between the moments when the landing gears lifted off the runway and the moment of impact.
The aviation analysts have reported that the last few moments of the flight indicated that the plane was either unable to develop thrust or lift. They added that the precise cause of crash would be established after a couple of months after thorough investigation into the air crash.
What Is A “Mayday” Call That Air India Pilot Issued Before Ahmedabad Crash
On Thursday afternoon, an Air India flight carrying out an Ahmedabad-London journey crashed soon after takeoff, at the Gatwick Airport. A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people on board lost height and crashed at about 1:38 pm followed by a huge fireball seconds after.
As per the information given by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, had made a Mayday call to the Air Traffic Control before the plane had lost contact.
What Is A Mayday Call?
Mayday call A Mayday call is a distress signal recognised internationally in both aviation and maritime communication systems to declare a life-threatening emergency.
The word is derived with the help of the French expression m aider that means help me.
It was initially proposed in the 1920s, and it is currently a standard procedure worldwide. Mayday, Mayday, Mayday is always repeated three times in succession, to make it clear, particularly on busy or low-fidelity radio channels.
Whoever Issues A Mayday Call?
The person in charge of any vehicle or vessel, most often a pilot or a ship captain, sends out a Mayday call when dealing with a severe emergency.
This may involve such cases as engine failure, onboard fire, loss of control or any other situation that endangers the safety of the aircraft or ship and all the people on board. In aviation, Mayday is relayed to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) by the pilot via radio. Seldom a Mayday may as well be passed on by another airplane or vessel in the vicinity in case the initial caller has lost contact.
After a Mayday Call What Happens?
When a Mayday has been declared, the radio traffic on the frequency is cleared. The distressed individual provides their location, type of emergency and other important information. Rescue coordination is then passed on to ATC or emergency services.
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