What Happened In Ahmedabad – What Do We Know?
A tragic aviation disaster struck the city of Ahmedabad on the afternoon of June 12, Thursday, when Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner (registration VT-ANB), crashed just minutes after takeoff, plunging into a residential area near Meghaninagar, not far from the airport. The flight, which was bound for London Gatwick, had 230 passengers and 12 crew members onboard.
The aircraft departed from Runway 23 of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 PM IST (0809 UTC). It was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain (LTC) with over 8,200 hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 hours of flight time.
Also, read| Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Ex-Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Was Onboard
Shortly after takeoff, the pilots issued a MAYDAY call to Air Traffic Control (ATC). However, following this distress signal, all communication from the aircraft ceased.
Just five minutes after takeoff, the plane crashed outside the airport perimeter, with some eyewitnesses claiming it collided with the airport boundary wall before descending rapidly.
Thick black smoke was seen rising from the wreckage in the Meghaninagar area, and emergency services, including fire tenders, police, and ambulances, were immediately deployed to the scene. Debris was seen on fire, and TV channels showed disturbing visuals of passengers being rescued and carried away on stretchers.
In a statement on their official handle and website, Air India confirmed the incident: 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 on https://t.co/Fnw0ywg2Zt and on our X handle (https://t.co/Id1XFe9SfL).
-Air India…
— Air India (@airindia) June 12, 2025
An emergency response centre and support teams have been activated to help families of the victims. As of now, the exact cause of the crash is still under investigation. Tata Group has issued a statement regarding the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171.
Also, read| Live Updates: London-Bound Air India Plane Crashes Near Ahmedabad Airport
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.
At this moment, our…— Tata Group (@TataCompanies) June 12, 2025
No confirmed figures regarding casualties or survivors have been officially released, although rescue and recovery operations are in full swing. Eyewitnesses and early reports indicate massive destruction at the crash site, with several nearby homes damaged and casualties feared.
