Air India Boeing 787 Crashes After Takeoff from Ahmedabad: 242 on Board in Aviation's First Dreamliner Fatal Accident

An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport on June 12, 2025, carrying 242 passengers and crew members bound for London Gatwick Airport. The crash represents the first fatal accident involving any Boeing 787 since the aircraft type entered service in 2011 with All Nippon Airways.

Flight AI171, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner registered VT-ANB, departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) in Ahmedabad. According to air traffic control at Ahmedabad Airport, the aircraft departed at 1:39 PM local time (08:09 GMT) from runway 23 and issued a "Mayday" call signalling an emergency, but thereafter there was no response from the aircraft.

The Boeing 787 crashed into the Meghani Nagar residential area, just outside the airport perimeter, approximately five minutes after takeoff. Footage posted to social media and verified by news outlets shows plumes of thick, dark smoke rising from the crash site, which was a medical college. 5 students from the college have been reported dead, till now, with multiple critically injured. 

The aircraft was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese passengers, and one Canadian national. According to officials, there were 230 passengers and 12 crew members aboard the flight. The flight was commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar.

Indian Army teams comprising approximately 130 personnel have been deployed to assist civil administration in the ongoing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts following the crash. The Ahmedabad Police Commissioner has stated that there are "expected to be no survivors." No survivors have been noticed till now, as per reports. Among those on the plane affected was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

The crash prompted immediate emergency response efforts. Union Home Minister Amit Shah contacted the Chief Minister of Gujarat following the incident. Air India has activated its emergency response protocols and established support systems for affected families.

"Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details," Air India said in a statement posted on X.

The airline has established a dedicated passenger hotline (1800 5691 444) to provide information to concerned family members and has activated an Operational Control Room (011-24610843, 9650391859) at the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

This crash marks a significant moment for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner programme. The aircraft has been in commercial service since 2011 and has generally maintained a strong safety record throughout its operational history. The Boeing 787-8 involved in the crash has been in service since 2009, with over 1,000 aircraft delivered to airlines worldwide.

Air India, now owned by the Tata Group following its merger with Vistara in 2024, has described itself as "a global airline with an Indian heart." The carrier has been working to modernise its operations and fleet as part of its transformation under new ownership.

The aviation industry and authorities in both India and the United Kingdom are closely monitoring the investigation's progress as rescue and recovery operations continue at the crash site near Ahmedabad airport.