They’re all said to be dead.
An accident occurred immediately after the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London, took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Ten crew members and 232 passengers made up the 242 individuals on board.
Tragedy Strikes: Air India Flight AI171 Crashes Shortly After Takeoff from Ahmedabad
In a devastating turn of events, Air India Flight AI171, operating on the Ahmedabad–London Gatwick route, crashed just minutes after takeoff, leading to widespread shock and sorrow.
The flight departed from Ahmedabad at 1:10 PM on 12 June 2025, and was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport. However, just about five minutes into the journey, the aircraft went down, resulting in thick black smoke engulfing the crash site — a scene captured in visuals from nearby areas.
Air India confirmed the incident in an official statement, saying:
“Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad–London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest.”
Adding to the gravity of the situation, Flightradar24, a global flight tracking service, reported that it lost contact with the aircraft just seconds after takeoff. The last signal was received when the aircraft was at an altitude of 625 feet (approximately 190 meters).
Air India’s chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, issued an emotional statement on X (formerly Twitter), confirming the crash and expressing condolences:
“It is with profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad–London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today.”
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event.”
As investigations begin and rescue teams work tirelessly at the site, the country and the global aviation community await further details and mourn this profound loss.
This is a developing story. More updates will follow as information becomes available.