Air India flight AI171 crashes after takeoff from Ahmedabad, 242 on board

An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed into a residential area shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport this afternoon (June 12).

The flight, numbered AI171, was headed to London Gatwick.

The aircraft had 232 passengers and 10 crew members. It was in the air for about five minutes before crashing at 1:38 PM.

Air India confirmed that of the 242 people on board, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were British nationals, 1 was a Canadian national, and 7 were Portuguese nationals.

A video shared online shows the plane flying low and struggling to gain height. Moments later, it crashes and explodes in a massive fireball. Thick grey smoke was seen rising from the crash site.

Emergency services rushed to the scene. At least two dozen ambulances arrived to help the injured, who are being taken to nearby hospitals. Police have cordoned off the site and diverted traffic to allow rescue work to continue.

Air India confirmed the crash in a statement and said it is fully cooperating with authorities investigating the incident. The airline has also set up a dedicated passenger information hotline at 1800 5691 444.

Further updates will be shared on Air India’s official X account @airindia and on airindia.com.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said he is personally monitoring the situation and has directed all aviation and emergency response teams to work quickly and in coordination.

“My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families,” the minister said in a message posted on X.

---

UPDATE – 05:50 PM:

The police chief of Ahmedabad has said there do not appear to be any survivors following the Air India crash.

“It appears there are no survivors in the plane crash,” Commissioner G.S. Malik said.

Malik added that it was likely there were “casualties” among people in the area where the plane went down.

He said that since the aircraft had crashed in a residential area that also includes offices, “some locals would have also died,” adding that precise figures were “being ascertained.”

---

UPDATE – 07:50 PM:

A tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad this afternoon, initially thought to have no survivors, has taken a surprising turn.

Hours after declaring that no one survived, Ahmedabad police announced they had found one person alive.

The survivor, identified as 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, was found walking near the crash site.

A cellphone video being shared online shows him limping, with blood stains and soot on his white T-shirt and dark trousers.

He was seated in 11A on the flight.

Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik told news agency ANI, “One survivor was found in seat 11A. He is now in the hospital and receiving treatment.”

Ramesh, a British-Indian, was returning to the UK after a visit to India. He had boarded the flight with his brother and is now trying to locate him.

The Air India flight AI-171, bound for London, had 242 people on board, including crew. It crashed just minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad, reaching only about 825 feet before it suddenly dropped.

The pilot sent a mayday call, and then the plane exploded in a large fireball, with smoke visible for miles.

The cause of the crash is still unknown. Experts suggest it might have been engine failure, another technical issue, or even a bird strike.

The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was 11 years old and in good condition. Investigators hope the black box will reveal more details.

The death toll is not yet confirmed, and may rise, especially since the plane crashed in a residential area.