The plane that crashed is a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a twin-engine widebody jet. According to the Aviation Safety Network database, this is the first-ever crash involving this aircraft model.
An Air India flight bound for London tragically crashed on Thursday, June 12, just minutes after taking off from the northwestern Indian city of Ahmedabad. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and ensuring medical aid and relief support is provided at the crash site.
How many passengers were on board?
Authorities have confirmed flight AI171 was travelling from Ahmedabad in India to London Gatwick, and crashed moments after taking off from the runway.
Indian authorities have confirmed that over 240 passengers were on board the plane at the time of the crash.
Rescue teams have since been called to the area as emergency services are on the scene, reportedly carrying people away from the crash in stretchers.
According to the airline, it was carrying ‘242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft’.
It added: “Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals.”
India’s civil aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, commented on the incident, stating: “I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action.
“Rescue teams have been mobilized, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site.
“My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families.”
Where did the plane crash?
The aircraft had departed at 1:38 p.m. local time. It was scheduled to land at London’s Gatwick Airport at 18:25. According to data from Flight Radar, it lost signal just seconds after takeoff, having reached an altitude of 625 feet.
Before communication with the aircraft was severed, the aircraft issued a mayday alert to air traffic control. No further communication followed after the distress call.
The plane went down in a residential area called Meghani Nagar, crashing into a doctor’s hostel, only five minutes into the flight. The densely populated neighborhood lies near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, a city of over 5 million residents.
Caught On Cam: Passenger plane crashes near Ahmedabad Airport.#PlaneCrash #Gujarat #Ahmedabad #ViralVideo pic.twitter.com/EkitM2Eg9Y
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) June 12, 2025
Weather conditions were reported to be calm and clear at the time of the crash, according to flight safety expert Marco Chan. Aviation forecasts indicated light surface winds and visibility of around six kilometres, with no severe weather, storms, or wind shear present that could have impacted the flight.
Visuals aired on local news channels showed thick plumes of smoke rising from the crash site as emergency crews rushed to the scene. Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the directorate of civil aviation, confirmed the location of the crash and the number of people on board.
India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, shared that emergency response teams had been dispatched to the scene, with efforts underway to provide immediate medical assistance and necessary relief to those affected.
“We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action,” he noted. “My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families.”
Operations at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport have been suspended, with the airport remaining closed until further notice.
Records show the crashed aircraft frequently operates routes between India and cities such as Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Amsterdam, and Melbourne. This marks the first-ever crash involving a Boeing 787, a significant moment for the aircraft that has maintained a strong safety record since its launch 14 years ago.
The aircraft involved in the Air India #AI171 crash is a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with registration number VT-ANB and serial number 36279.
First flight of the aircraft was on 2013-12-14 and it was delivered to Air India in January 2014. pic.twitter.com/gC1Mk5WoCa
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) June 12, 2025
Known as the Dreamliner, the model recently celebrated a major milestone, having transported over a billion passengers across nearly five million flights. The global fleet of more than 1,175 Dreamliners has accumulated over 30 million flight hours.
The incident is a serious setback for Boeing, which has already been under pressure due to ongoing issues with its 737 aircraft line. It also presents a fresh challenge for CEO Kelly Ortberg, who is nearing his one-year mark at the helm and was appointed to help steer the company through mounting concerns about its operations and reliability.
Source: ondoho.com; unilad.com