India was rocked by one of its deadliest aviation disasters when Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The London-bound flight, carrying 242 people including 230 passengers, 10 crew members, and 2 pilots exploded into flames minutes after departure, killing 241 individuals. Miraculously, one passenger seated in 11A survived and is currently hospitalized.
Air India confirmed the death toll early Friday in a post on X (formerly Twitter), adding that the 12-year-old aircraft had departed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 pm and went down within minutes. The flight was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian passenger. The lone survivor is a British citizen of Indian origin.
According to reports, the aircraft made a "mayday" distress call moments after take-off but could not maintain altitude, crashing at just 825 feet. A widely circulated video shows the jet struggling to climb before violently impacting the ground and erupting in a fireball. Witnesses say the plane struck a hostel for doctors, killing five medical students and causing severe damage to the facility. Charred debris and food-laden plates were found in the hostel dining area, pierced by wreckage.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene, with over two dozen ambulances transporting injured survivors and retrieving remains. Police have cordoned off the area as rescue operations and forensic examinations continue.
Air India expressed condolences to the victims' families and announced the deployment of caregiver teams in Ahmedabad. The airline has established helplines for family members, both in India and internationally, while providing regular updates via its official website and social media channels.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu confirmed he is personally overseeing coordination among aviation and emergency response agencies. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reported that the aircraft was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had over 8,000 flight hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, with 1,100 hours.
While investigations are ongoing, experts have noted that the plane was fully loaded with fuel for the long-haul route to London, possibly contributing to the severity of the explosion. The cause of the lift failure is still unknown, and flight data from the black boxes will be critical in determining whether the tragedy stemmed from mechanical failure, pilot error, or other factors. This crash marks the deadliest aviation accident in India in over a decade and the first fatal incident involving a Boeing 787 since its introduction in 2011.
