Air India Flight AI171 Crashes Near Ahmedabad, Over 200 Dead | 1 Alive
Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025: Shock and grief enveloped India on Thursday after an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London came down near Ahmedabad Airport moments after takeoff. Flight AI171, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew, plummeted into a dormitory building at the B.J. Medical College, triggering fires and chaos. Officials confirmed that over 200 people on board were killed, making it the worst aviation disaster in India in recent memory.
Crash Timeline and Details
Flight AI171 departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 PM local time (0845 GMT) on June 12, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport. Just minutes after takeoff, the pilots declared an emergency and radioed a Mayday distress call. The aircraft then suddenly vanished from radar as it burst into flames. Eyewitnesses watched in horror as the jet crashed into the campus of B.J. Medical College adjacent to the airport. Debris and parts of the fuselage littered the area, and the impact ignited fires in the building and across the campus.
Rescue and Response
Emergency crews and disaster response teams rushed to the crash site amid plumes of thick black smoke. Firefighters battled the inferno and police evacuated nearby buildings to clear the wreckage. The building hit by the plane was used as a student dormitory and cafeteria, and dozens of medical students inside at lunchtime managed to escape. Some students jumped from upper-story windows to safety, suffering injuries. Local hospitals declared a state of emergency and dispatched ambulances for the injured; dozens of doctors and nurses worked through the afternoon to treat burn and trauma patients.
By evening, authorities reported recovering over 200 bodies from the debris, including victims who were in the college building. DNA samples from relatives are being collected to identify the dead. Most of the damaged area had been cleared by search teams, but so far no survivors have been found among the passengers or crew of Flight AI171. The runway at Ahmedabad Airport was briefly closed after the crash but was reopened later with limited operations as investigators worked to secure evidence.
Official Reactions and Support
The crash prompted an outpouring of support from India and abroad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "stunned and heartbroken" and ordered all possible help for the rescue teams. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the images of the crash "devastating" and pledged support for any U.K. citizens affected. King Charles expressed profound shock and sent condolences to the families.
Air India’s executives and local authorities also conveyed sorrow. The airline’s chairman said he was deeply saddened and would extend full support to the victims’ families. The airport’s operator, run by a major conglomerate, likewise expressed "deepest sorrow" and promised assistance to the bereaved. Officials noted that the passenger manifest included citizens of India, Britain, Portugal and Canada; embassies have mobilized to aid in identifying the victims.
Passengers, Families and Survivors
Relatives of the passengers waited anxiously at hospitals and information centers as news of the crash spread. Twenty-five-year-old Poonam Patel was distraught, saying her sister-in-law was on the flight. “She texted me earlier this morning saying she was excited to visit family in London,” Patel said. “Within an hour we heard the plane had crashed. We are praying for a miracle, but we fear the worst.”
On the college campus, survivors described a day of terror. Ramila, the mother of a medical student, said her son had been eating lunch nearby. “He jumped from the second floor as the plane hit,” she said. “He is hurt but alive, which I thank the gods for.” Dozens of injured students were treated for burns and fractures; some remain in critical condition in local hospitals.
Volunteers and neighbors joined relief efforts, offering blankets, food and blood donations to the hospitals. Emergency hotlines have been set up to help families find missing loved ones. The community’s shock was palpable as people lit candles outside city hospitals and searched for word on their friends and relatives well into the night.
Aircraft and Route Background
Flight AI171 was operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, one of the most modern and fuel-efficient wide-body jets. Introduced in 2011, the Dreamliner series was known for its advanced composite construction and safety systems. The crashed aircraft had entered service in 2013 and had flown for Air India since 2014 without major incident. Until today, the 787 had an exceptional safety record, and this is the first fatal accident involving a Dreamliner. Investigators will later examine maintenance records and flight data to determine what went wrong.
The Ahmedabad–London (Gatwick) route is a relatively new non-stop service connecting India’s western state of Gujarat with the UK. The flight covers some 6,800 kilometers and normally takes around 10 hours. It has become popular among business travelers and families in the large Indian diaspora in Britain. Air India is India’s national carrier, now part of a larger aviation group under the Tata conglomerate, and regularly operates global routes with aircraft like the Dreamliner, which until now had no reported safety issues.
Ongoing Investigation
India’s aviation regulator (DGCA) has launched a full inquiry into the crash. Accident investigators have recovered the aircraft’s flight data recorders (the “black boxes”) and begun analyzing their information. Boeing engineers and other international experts are expected to assist, given the jet’s American manufacture and the multinational passenger list.
The weather at the time of takeoff was clear, and there were no immediate indications of foul play. Officials caution that it is too early to speculate on the cause of the disaster. In the coming days, authorities will review cockpit voice recordings, air traffic control communications and maintenance logs to piece together the final moments of Flight AI171.
As the nation mourns, forensic and safety teams are working around the clock to find answers. Families of the lost, left in unimaginable grief, await answers as the search for truth begins.
