The London-bound Boeing 787 crashed into a residential area shortly after takeoff. Police confirm 204 bodies recovered; hopes remain for more survivors after one Briton is rescued alive.
Ahmedabad | June 12, 2025 —
The tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad has left the nation in mourning, as authorities confirmed the recovery of 204 bodies from the debris of the downed aircraft. The flight, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, was carrying 242 people, including crew, when it crashed five minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
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CCTV footage of the Air India Flight 171 crash. Everything seems to be normal up until the last few seconds when the plane apparently loses thrust and lift pic.twitter.com/QBunB4IlZn
— Rahul Srinivas (@whizkidd) June 12, 2025
The aircraft plunged into a densely populated residential area, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky. Videos from the crash site have gone viral, capturing the intensity of the explosion and the panic that followed.
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Despite the devastation, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner told Reuters that survivors cannot be ruled out. That hope was bolstered after a British national, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, was found alive and admitted to Civil Hospital Asarwa with injuries.
“We are still conducting intensive search operations. While we have recovered 204 bodies, we are hopeful of locating more survivors,” a senior police official stated.
Passengers on Board
The passenger manifest included:
- 169 Indian nationals
- 53 British nationals
- 7 Portuguese
- 1 Canadian
Among the passengers was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, whose status remains unconfirmed.
Also Read: What Was the Chilling ‘Mayday’ Call Before Air India’s Deadly Crash?
Government Responds
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed deep concern and ordered a high-level rescue and relief mission, with Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and Home Minister Amit Shah en route to Ahmedabad to oversee the operations.
“All efforts are being made to assist the victims and their families. Emergency protocols have been activated,” a statement from the PMO read.
Ongoing Efforts and Unanswered Questions
The crash has raised significant questions about aircraft safety, with aviation authorities launching a full investigation. The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) are yet to be retrieved, which will be crucial in determining the cause of the crash.
Tags:
Air India crash, Ahmedabad plane crash, AI171, London-bound flight, Boeing 787, aviation disaster, PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Vijay Rupani, crash survivors, Civil Hospital Ahmedabad, rescue ops, aviation investigation