Plane Crashes Near Ahmedabad Airport โ Rescue Underway 2025
On June 12, 2025, at approximately 1:38 p.m. IST, an Air India Boeingโฏ787โ8 Dreamliner operating as Flight AIโฏ171, carrying 242 people, crashed into a residential/hostel area near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff.
Flight Details & Crash Circumstances
- Departed for London Gatwick with 230 passengers and 12 crew members.
- Plane reached an altitude of just about 625 ft before descending rapidly; a Mayday call was issued by the crew.
- The aircraft collided with a doctorsโ hostel and medical college building in Meghani Nagar, causing a massive fireball.
Casualties and Survivors
- 204 bodies recovered so far; ground fatalities (residents and hostel occupants) reported in addition.
- One survivor, British passenger VishwashโฏKumarโฏRamesh in seat 11A, is hospitalized.
- Official death toll may reach at least 290, including casualties on the ground.
Rescue & Emergency Response
- 6 NDRF teams, 2 BSF units, multiple fire engines, ambulances, CISF, the Indian Army, and local authorities are coordinating rescue and relief operations.
- Ahmedabad Airport operations suspended, with roads cordoned off and a green corridor opened for emergency vehicles.
Official Responses
- Prime Minister Modi called it โheartbreaking beyond wordsโ and pledged support.
- UK PM Starmer, the British royal family, and King Charles III expressed deep condolences.
- Indian Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and Air India Chairman Chandrasekaran confirmed activation of emergency teams and family support cells.
Investigation & Aircraft History
- This marks the first fatal crash of a Boeingโฏ787 aircraft since its introduction.
- Indiaโs DGCA, with support from US investigators, has launched a formal investigation, assessing mechanical or system failures .
Local & International Impact
- The crash is among the deadliest civil aviation disasters in India, following the 1996 Charkhi Dadri collision and 1988 Ahmedabad crash.
- Flight operations and air traffic in and out of Ahmedabad remain temporarily halted.
๐งพ Summary
The tragic crash of Air India Flight AIโฏ171 near Ahmedabad Airport has initiated large-scale rescue operations and international condolence. Though rescue teams work tirelessly, the confirmed fatalities exceed 200, with only one confirmed survivor. Investigations are underway to determine the root causes of this grim aviation milestone.
