An Air India flight with 243 passengers onboard reportedly crashed near Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was operating as Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. The crash is said to have occurred shortly after takeoff, in the Meghani Nagar area of the city.
A video from near the crash site captured the final moments of the Air India flight before it crashed:
Here is the video:
Initial data indicates that the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 625 feet before losing signal. At the time, its speed was recorded at around 174 knots. Soon after the incident, a thick plume of smoke was seen rising from the crash site near the airport’s outer boundary wall, prompting an immediate response.
Rescue operations are currently underway, with the Indian Air Force and Army actively involved in the efforts. Emergency responders and fire brigade teams rushed to the site, and visuals from the scene show them transporting injured passengers to nearby hospitals. Relief efforts continue amid the ongoing chaos.
Air India has issued its first official statement, saying: “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.”
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has dispatched its accident investigation team to probe the incident. Authorities are expected to release more information as the situation develops.