Flight AI171 to London crashes into residential area 5 minutes after takeoff; operations at Ahmedabad airport suspended, rescue underway
LIVE Updates – June 12, 2025 | 4:02 PM IST
An Air India Dreamliner (Flight AI171) bound for London’s Gatwick Airport crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8, was carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members.
Also Read: Air India Crash: Bird Hit Likely Caused Engine Failure, Say Experts
🔴 Latest Developments:
- 🔺 Officials say chances of survivors are “very slim”, as the aircraft crashed into a densely populated residential area.
- 🔺 Visuals from the crash site show intense fire and thick black smoke engulfing the area.
- 🔺 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken direct stock of the situation and ordered immediate relief and rescue operations.
- 🔺 Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu is en route to Ahmedabad to supervise the response on-ground.
- 🔺 Ahmedabad Airport has been temporarily shut down, and all operations have been suspended.
- 🔺 Air India confirms the nationalities of the passengers:
• 169 Indians
• 53 British nationals
• 7 Portuguese
• 1 Canadian - 🔺 Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani is reportedly among the passengers, though official confirmation is awaited.
Also Read: Breaking! Air India Plane Crash: 130+ Dead, Rescue Efforts Underway
🛑 Background:
Flight AI171 took off at 1:39 PM IST, but within five minutes, a “Mayday” distress call was issued by the cockpit before radio silence ensued. The plane crashed around 1:44 PM, likely due to engine failure caused by a suspected bird hit, as per aviation experts.
Also Read: Air India Crash: Pilots Issued ‘Mayday’ Call- Then There Was Complete Silence Says DGCA
What’s Next:
- A full-fledged investigation is underway by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air India.
- Emergency teams have been deployed, including over two dozen ambulances and fire units.
- An emergency helpline has been activated for relatives: 1800 5691 444
- Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran has issued a statement expressing profound grief and promised full cooperation with authorities and support for victims’ families.
Tags:
Air India crash, Ahmedabad plane crash, Flight AI171, Boeing 787 accident, India aviation, Modi rescue response, Ram Mohan Naidu, Vijay Rupani, crash victims, DGCA