Air India Ahmedabad Plane Crash: What Happened
An Air India flight (AI-171), operating a scheduled service from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, June 12, 2025. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, lost altitude within minutes of departure and struck the residential quarters of BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area, causing catastrophic damage and a massive fire.
At least 274 people have been confirmed dead, including 230 passengers, 2 pilots, and 10 cabin crew on board, as well as residents and medical staff on the ground.
Only one person, a British national of Indian origin, survived the crash and is currently recovering in hospital.
Among the victims were former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, 10 doctors and their relatives residing in the medical college quarters, and several MBBS students; at least 24 students remain hospitalized with injuries.
The crash site was engulfed in flames, with temperatures reaching up to 1,000°C due to the 1.25 lakh litres of jet fuel on board, making rescue operations extremely difficult and resulting in the deaths of not only people but also animals in the area.
The flight took off at 1:38 PM local time and lost signal within a minute, reaching only about 625 feet in altitude before crashing.
Witnesses described a loud explosion and a thick plume of smoke rising above the city, with debris and bodies scattered across the crash site.
Emergency services, including fire engines and ambulances, responded rapidly, but the intense fire and destruction hampered rescue efforts.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have launched formal investigations, with support from Boeing and international experts.
The aircraft’s black box has been recovered, which will be critical for determining the cause of the crash.
Early expert analysis suggests that the heavy fuel load for the long-haul international flight contributed to the severity of the post-crash fire.
Of the 242 people on board, there were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian national.
The tragedy has deeply affected both the aviation community and the local medical fraternity, given the high number of doctors and students among the casualties.
Recovery operations continue, with over 100 workers and 40 engineers engaged in clearing the wreckage.
DNA testing will be required for identification of many victims due to the intensity of the fire.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with officials yet to release any preliminary findings.
