Tragedy Strikes Air India Flight AI171
Ahmedabad, India – An Air India Boeing 787, flight AI171, tragically crashed near Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon, June 12, 2025, shortly after taking off from Runway 23 at 1:39 PM IST. The flight, bound for London Gatwick, was carrying 242 people – 2 pilots, 10 cabin crew, and 230 passengers.
Thick plumes of smoke rose into the sky immediately after the incident, prompting a massive emergency response. Flight tracking service Flightradar24 reported the aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 625 feet before its rapid descent. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed the aircraft issued a “Mayday” call just after takeoff, but communication ceased almost instantly. The last signal from the plane was received at 13:38:51 IST.
Onboard Details: The aircraft, registered VT-ANB, was commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with 8,200 hours of experience. First Officer Clive Kundar had logged 1,100 flying hours.
The passenger manifest included:
- 169 Indian nationals
- 53 British nationals
- 7 Portuguese nationals
- 1 Canadian national
Immediate Response and Ongoing Efforts
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, who is currently en route to Ahmedabad to personally oversee the rescue and relief operations. The Prime Minister has directed that all necessary support be provided without delay.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 80 personnel from Gandhinagar to the crash site, and rescue and relief efforts are actively underway. A green corridor is being established to facilitate the swift transport of injured passengers to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention.
Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran expressed profound sorrow over the tragic accident and reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to assisting emergency response teams and providing comprehensive support to all those impacted by this devastating event.
The cause of the crash is currently unknown, and a detailed inquiry by the DGCA and other relevant agencies is now underway. All flight operations at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (Ahmedabad) have been temporarily suspended.
Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic incident. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. Sources