AHMEDABAD – An Air India passenger aircraft crashed near Ahmedabad airport on Thursday, shortly after takeoff, raising fears of multiple casualties.
The flight was en route from Ahmedabad to London and was carrying over 250 people, including 12 crew members.
The Indian media reported that the aircraft — a Boeing 787 Dreamliner — went down just minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Among the passengers was reportedly a former Chief Minister of Gujarat.
The flight tracking data revealed that Air India Flight AI-171 reached an altitude of only 625 feet at a speed of 322 km/h before it lost contact with air traffic control.
Air India Dreamliner crash flight AI171
A sad day for aviation @AirNavRadar
— Flight Emergency (@FlightEmergency) June 12, 2025
The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the pilot issued a mayday call at 1:39 PM local time, moments before the crash.
Initial reports suggested that the aircraft went down in a densely populated area near the airport. The videos circulating on social media show heavy smoke rising from the crash site, as emergency services rushed to the scene.
#BREAKING | Air India Ahmedabad-London flight crashes near airport in Gujarat’s Meghani area
More details awaited 🔗https://t.co/h1DrVJXaWq pic.twitter.com/MiuFVuB4AC
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) June 12, 2025
The local authorities declared a state of emergency at hospitals while flight operations at Ahmedabad airport were temporarily suspended.
The ill-fated aircraft was reported to be 11 years old. The investigations into the cause of the crash are underway, the local media reported.
