A London-bound Air India flight carrying 242 people crashed near Ahmedabad shortly after take-off on Thursday afternoon, sending shockwaves through the aviation community and beyond.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner registered as VT-ANB, had just departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport en route to Gatwick Airport in London when it went down in the Meghani area, close to the airport, reports UNB.
On board were 230 passengers and 12 crew members.
Rescue workers reported recovering at least 30 to 35 bodies from the site, with more people still trapped, reports Reuters.
Flight AI171, scheduled to depart at 1:10pm, local time, had earlier in the day completed a flight from Delhi to Ahmedabad, according to aviation tracking service Flightradar24.
Emergency services, including seven fire engines, were quickly dispatched to the crash site. Eyewitnesses reported plumes of thick black smoke rising from the area.
Air India confirmed the crash in a brief statement on social media platform X: “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.”
Air India reported that the 242 people on board included 217 adults and 11 children. Among them were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, reports Reuters.
Sources indicate that former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the passengers aboard the ill-fated flight, although his status remains unconfirmed.
Authorities are currently conducting rescue and investigation operations. Further details, including possible casualties or the cause of the crash, are awaited.
