ISLAMABAD: A catastrophic aviation disaster struck India on Thursday when an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing more than 200 people.
The ill-fated flight, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members when it plummeted into a residential area near the airport.
Authorities confirmed the aircraft crashed onto a medical college doctors’ hostel, causing widespread destruction.
VIDEO | Ahmedabad: Smoke seen emanating from airport premises. More details are awaited.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7)
(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/qbO486KoEo
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 12, 2025
Thick smoke engulfed the crash site as emergency personnel rushed to contain the fire and retrieve bodies.
City police chief GS Malik reported that 204 bodies had been recovered.
No survivors have been found, and officials fear all onboard perished.
Air India confirms that flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an accident today after take-off.
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…
— Air India (@airindia) June 12, 2025
First Boeing 787 Crash in History
The incident marks the first-ever crash involving a Boeing 787 aircraft, often referred to as the Dreamliner.
Flight data revealed the signal was lost less than a minute after take-off at 1:38pm local time.
The pilot issued a “Mayday” alert, but all contact was lost soon after.
Experts from Boeing and GE Aerospace, the engine manufacturer, have joined Indian authorities to investigate the crash.
Air India confirmed that passengers included 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.
Twelve other passengers’ nationalities have not yet been verified.
Global Condolences and Market Impact
Condolences flooded in from global leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Pakistan’s leadership.
They expressed sorrow and solidarity with the victims’ families in this time of immense grief.
Air India has activated an emergency center and a dedicated support hotline for families of the deceased.
The tragic crash sent Boeing shares tumbling by 8% in premarket trading, raising renewed concerns over aviation safety.
This disaster further highlights India’s complex aviation safety record, including major past accidents.
