12 June 2025 – Ahmedabad, India
An Air India flight bound for London Gatwick has crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, India, leaving authorities and emergency responders grappling with the scale of the disaster.
According to local police, at least 242 people were on board the aircraft when it went down in a residential area in the northwestern city of Ahmedabad.
Heart goes out to the families of all passengers and those affected in the residential area where the flight crashed in Ahmedabad. 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, and 7 Portuguese were on board. A tragedy beyond words.
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) June 12, 2025
pic.twitter.com/NR4q5KT0Cw
Where Did the Plane Crash?
Air India flight AI171 departed Ahmedabad Airport shortly after 1pm local time on Thursday. Just minutes into the flight, the aircraft crashed into a densely populated neighbourhood known as Meghani Nagar, as confirmed by Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the Directorate of Civil Aviation.
Data from the flight-tracking platform Flightradar shows that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner reached an altitude of 625 feet before the signal was lost.
India’s aviation regulator has confirmed that the crash occurred just outside the perimeter of the airport. Disturbing footage from the scene shows a thick column of black smoke rising near the airport, with emergency responders frantically attending to the wounded. People are seen being carried on stretchers and rushed to nearby hospitals in ambulances.
Horrendous 😑
— Sandeep Manudhane (@sandeep_PT) June 12, 2025
Prayers for everyone
May God help and protect 🙏#Planecrash #AirIndia pic.twitter.com/jlpecYRbIX
Details of the Aircraft
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, according to Flightradar data. Air India confirmed the incident in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying:
“Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad–London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025.”
The airline added that it is currently working to ascertain the full details and will share updates through its social media channels and official website.
London Gatwick Airport also confirmed that the flight was scheduled to land in the UK at 6:25pm local time.
Breaking News: Air India Passenger plane to London from Ahmedabad crashed after takeoff. 133 people were inside
— Crime Reports India (@AsianDigest) June 12, 2025
pic.twitter.com/3j2dF7MvPk
‘Shocked and Devastated’
India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, expressed his deep sorrow over the crash, stating:
“I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action.”
He added that rescue teams have been mobilised and that efforts are underway to deliver immediate medical and relief aid to the crash site.
“My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families.”
As the situation unfolds, officials urge the public to avoid the area to allow rescue operations to continue unhindered. Updates are expected as investigations proceed into the cause of the crash.
This is Ahmedabad’s largest crash. And the largest crash in India in a decade.
— Hirav (@hiravaero) June 12, 2025
This is also the first 787 hull loss.
Boundary wall has collapsed. The tail of the aircraft is on a building nearby. @airindia pic.twitter.com/F4zTu0LM78
A History of Tragedy: Notable Aviation Disasters
While air travel remains one of the safest forms of transportation, aviation history has been marked by several catastrophic incidents. Here are some of the most notable:
- Tenerife Airport Disaster (1977) – Two Boeing 747s collided on the runway in dense fog, killing 583 people. It remains the deadliest aviation accident in history.
- Japan Airlines Flight 123 (1985) – A structural failure led to a crash into mountainous terrain, killing 520 people out of 524 on board.
- Charkhi Dadri Mid-Air Collision (1996) – A Saudi Arabian Airlines 747 collided with a Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76 near New Delhi, killing 349.
- Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 (2014) – Disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board. The mystery of its disappearance continues to puzzle investigators.
- Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 (2014) – Shot down over eastern Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of all 298 people aboard.
- Air India Express Flight 1344 (2020) – Skidded off the runway in Kozhikode during landing in heavy rain, killing 21.
- Pan Am Flight 103 (1988) – Brought down by a terrorist bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people, including 11 on the ground.
- Germanwings Flight 9525 (2015) – Deliberately crashed into the French Alps by the co-pilot, killing all 150 on board.
Investigations into today’s crash are expected to be thorough and could take months before a definitive cause is determined.
This is a developing story. Please follow live updates for the latest information.
