Tragedy Strikes Minutes After Takeoff
In one of the deadliest aviation disasters in over a decade, an Indian plane crash claimed more than 200 lives on Thursday, shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The Air India flight, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, carried 242 people, including 11 children and 2 infants, when it plummeted into a residential zone near B.J. Medical College.
The crash occurred minutes after the 1:39 p.m. departure, sending shockwaves across India and the international community. Disturbing visuals from the scene revealed wreckage, burning debris, and thick smoke engulfing the area. The tail of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was found lodged atop a building, believed to be a doctors’ hostel, during peak lunch hours.
Scale of the Disaster
Ahmedabad police chief G.S. Malik confirmed that 204 bodies had been recovered, with expectations that the number may include both passengers and civilians on the ground. According to Air India, the flight included 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, 7 Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian. The government has requested DNA samples from relatives to assist with identification.
Air India confirms that flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an accident today after take-off.
— Air India (@airindia) June 12, 2025
The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Of these, 169 are…
State health secretary Dhananjay Dwivedi stated that rescue efforts were ongoing and that nearly 80% of the crash zone had been cleared.
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Eyewitness Accounts and Survivors
Several medical students at B.J. Medical College were caught in the tragic impact. Ramila, a mother of a student, shared that her son narrowly survived by jumping from the second floor. “He has injuries, but he’s alive,” she said tearfully.
Other eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing a fireball moments after the aircraft vanished from view. A relative of a passenger said, “Within an hour of her boarding, we got the devastating news.”
Emergency Response and Investigation
Ahmedabad Airport authorities confirmed that the aircraft had issued a Mayday signal just moments before losing contact. Aviation experts have raised concerns about the landing gear still being down during takeoff a troubling detail revealed in initial footage.
Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, acknowledged the incident and stated that they were gathering more information. GE Aerospace announced it would dispatch a team to India for data recovery and analysis.
The Dreamliner model involved in this crash had first flown in 2013 and was delivered to Air India in 2014. This marks the first-ever fatal Indian plane crash involving a Boeing 787.
After Indian Plane Crash – National Mourning and Global Reactions
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose home state is Gujarat, expressed deep sorrow and ordered full-scale rescue efforts. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles of the UK also released statements expressing condolences.
Ahmedabad Airport, briefly closed after the incident, has resumed limited operations. The Adani Group, which operates the airport, confirmed its full support for recovery and relief efforts.
A Dark Day for Indian Aviation
This heartbreaking Indian plane crash comes just years after the Air India Express accident in 2020. That crash killed 21 people when a flight overshot the runway in Kerala. The latest tragedy has reignited concerns over aviation safety standards and infrastructure in one of the world’s fastest-growing air travel markets.
As investigations continue, families mourn, and the world watches in grief. The skies above Ahmedabad, now filled with sorrow, bear witness to a tragedy that will not be forgotten anytime soon.
