AHMEDABAD – An ill-fated jet of Air India carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed in Ahmedabad, with over hundred deaths reported so far.
A tragic aviation disaster unfolded in western Indian city of Ahmedabad, India, where an Air India flight bound for London Gatwick crashed shortly after take-off.
Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Flight AI171 departed from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 PM local time today. In next couple of moments, the plane crashed into densely populated neighborhood called Meghani Nagar, located just northeast of the airport.
The crash occurred less than a minute after take-off. According to flight tracking data, the aircraft had climbed to approximately 625 feet before losing communication.
Who was on board?
The aircraft was carrying 242 people, including:
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169 Indian nationals
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53 British citizens
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7 Portuguese nationals
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1 Canadian passenger
Aircraft Details
The jet was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a modern aircraft known for its safety record. Air India has confirmed the incident and said they are still determining the full details of what went wrong.
Any Early Clues
It was being reported that the pilot reportedly issued a call just before the crash, suggesting the flight crew was aware of a serious issue, Such calls are said to be distress signal used when immediate assistance is needed.
Viral footage captured the Crash
Videos shared online shows Thick black smoke rising from crash site. Emergency workers moving injured passengers on stretchers. Firefighters trying to control flames and clear debris.
Air India’s Boeing 787-8 struggles to gain altitude shortly after departing Ahmedabad bound for London. It seems to stall and crashes into a residential area. The plane, a Boeing 788 was never involved in a fatal crash until today. pic.twitter.com/ppnLTpirQu
— Josh Cahill (@gotravelyourway) June 12, 2025
Travel disruptions
After the crash, all flights to and from Ahmedabad Airport have been suspended until further notice. India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu expressed shock and confirmed that all emergency and aviation services are on high alert. He said the situation is being monitored personally and rescue efforts are ongoing.
UK working with New Delhi
UK PM Starmer mourned the incident, saying he is receiving constant updates. Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that Britain is working with Indian authorities to establish the facts and support those involved.
Boeing has said it is aware of the incident and is working to collect more information. An investigation into the cause of the crash will be conducted by Indian aviation authorities, likely in cooperation with international agencies.
This is a developing story. Pakistan Observer will share updates as more details become available.