In a devastating aviation disaster, more than 200 people have been killed after an Air India flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport in western India. The tragic incident occurred on June 12, 2025, when Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, went down in a residential area near the airport, colliding with a medical college hostel.
The aircraft was carrying 242 passengers and crew members at the time of the crash. Authorities have confirmed that 204 bodies have been recovered from the wreckage so far. Among those killed are believed to be both passengers on board and people on the ground at the crash site.
One miraculous survivor has been reported. Ramesh Viswashkumar, who managed to jump from an emergency exit during the crash, was rescued and is now receiving medical treatment in hospital. Police officials have expressed hope that other survivors might still be found among the injured.
Footage shared from the scene showed thick plumes of smoke rising from the burning wreckage, with the twisted remains of the aircraft scattered around the crash site. The tail of the aircraft was seen perched on top of the hostel building, underscoring the sheer force of the impact.
According to air traffic control officials at Ahmedabad airport, the pilots had issued a mayday call moments before losing contact. Despite the call for emergency assistance, the aircraft could not be saved.
Flightradar24, a popular aviation-tracking platform, confirmed that the crashed plane was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a modern wide-body aircraft known for its advanced technology and safety features. Aviation experts noted that this marks the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 in its 15 years of commercial service worldwide.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is originally from Gujarat, expressed his deep sorrow over the disaster. “It is heartbreaking beyond words,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Modi offered his condolences to the families of the victims and assured that relief and rescue efforts were fully underway.
India’s Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu also conveyed his shock and grief, stating that emergency response teams had been deployed to provide medical assistance and aid to those affected by the crash.
Internationally, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident “devastating,” adding that the United Kingdom was working closely with Indian authorities to support the victims and their families. The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) announced it would send a specialized investigation team to collaborate with India’s inquiry into the cause of the crash.
This tragic event is India’s worst aviation accident since 2020, when an Air India Express plane overshot a runway in Kozhikode, resulting in 21 fatalities. While the cause of Thursday’s crash remains under investigation, aviation analysts emphasized that the Boeing 787 has historically been considered one of the safest aircraft models.
As rescue operations continue and investigations begin, the nation and the world mourn the tremendous loss of life in this unprecedented aviation tragedy.