Written by Finvest
Published: June 12, 2025
What started as a routine flight turned into one of the darkest days in India’s aviation history. An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI171, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport this afternoon. The aircraft, en route to London Gatwick, had 244 souls on board, none expected the tragedy that unfolded in the skies above Gujarat.
The Flight That Never Took Off
The aircraft lifted off from runway 23 around 1:37 p.m. IST. But within a minute, all communication with Air Traffic Control was lost. According to early reports, the plane reached just 625 feet before rapidly descending and crashing into a densely populated area near Meghani Nagar.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion, followed by plumes of thick, black smoke. The massive impact shattered nearby homes and shops, adding to the chaos and devastation on the ground.
Casualties and Rescue Operations
While official numbers are still being confirmed, it’s feared that all 232 passengers and 12 crew members aboard the flight have perished. Emergency response was immediate, fire trucks, ambulances, police, and even local civilians rushed to the crash site to help. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were quickly mobilized.
A temporary emergency center has been set up at the airport to assist grieving families and friends arriving in search of loved ones. The emotional scenes outside the Air India help desk are heartbreaking — tears, prayers, and disbelief.
What Went Wrong?
This was the first crash ever involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its introduction in 2009 — a sobering moment for global aviation safety experts.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an immediate investigation. The aircraft was reportedly 11 years old, and was heavily fueled for the long international route — raising concerns about fire and explosion severity.
Air India and Boeing engineers have already been dispatched to Ahmedabad to retrieve the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) — the “black boxes” that may hold the answers to what caused this unimaginable disaster.
Reactions From Officials
Speaking to the media, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu called the incident a “devastating blow” and pledged a full-scale investigation.
Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran released a public statement, saying:
Our thoughts are with the families of those lost. We are cooperating with all authorities and will do everything to support the next of kin.
Bigger Questions for Indian Aviation?
In a country where air travel has grown rapidly, safety is now under even sharper scrutiny. This crash raises tough questions: Was there a technical failure? Was pilot error a factor? Or was it a systemic issue involving aircraft maintenance?
With global attention now fixed on India, the answers must come — and soon.
Conclusion
As I write this, rescue efforts continue into the evening. The images coming out of Ahmedabad are haunting — broken homes, twisted metal, lost lives. It’s a reminder of just how fragile life is.
Let us not forget the 244 souls who boarded that aircraft with dreams, hopes, and plans — all gone in a moment.
May they rest in peace.
