In a tragic incident, Air India flight AI171, traveling from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed just minutes after takeoff on Thursday afternoon, causing widespread devastation in a residential neighborhood. The crash prompted the temporary shutdown of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, with all flight operations suspended until further notice.
An airport spokesperson confirmed that the airport is currently non-operational, and no arrivals or departures are being processed. The airline has set up a hotline, 1800 5691 444, for families and friends seeking information about passengers. No official figures regarding casualties or survivors have been released yet.
Visuals from the crash site depict severe damage to nearby buildings, with the aircraft’s fuselage embedded into a hostel structure. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers, took off at 1:38 p.m. and crashed approximately five minutes later into a residential area in Meghani Nagar, just outside the airport perimeter. Thick black smoke and panic engulfed the locality as rescue efforts began.
The flight crew included Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned pilot with 8,200 flight hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft issued a “Mayday” call shortly after takeoff before losing radio contact. Investigators suggest that multiple bird strikes may have caused engine failure, though the exact cause is still under investigation.
Emergency services responded swiftly, with seven fire engines and three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams arriving promptly. Additional NDRF teams are en route from Vadodara to assist in rescue operations.
Air India confirmed the incident on social media, stating: “Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, June 12, 2025. We are ascertaining details and will provide updates as soon as possible.” The aircraft, registered VT-ANB, had earlier flown from Delhi to Ahmedabad earlier in the day.
The passenger list includes 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. Among the passengers was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has reached Ahmedabad to oversee the situation, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reviewed the incident and directed authorities to undertake urgent rescue and relief measures.