53 Britons, 169 Indians, 7 Portuguese, 1 Canadian on fateful Dreamliner
The fateful Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was carrying 242 people on board – of whom 230 were passengers and 12 crew.
The passenger manifest included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian.
Among the passengers was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who is reportedly severely injured.
The exact number of casualties remains unconfirmed, though local sources fear significant loss of life due to the crash’s proximity to a residential area. Bodies are still being recovered, and a green corridor has been established to transport the injured to nearby hospitals, including Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital.
The catastrophic aviation disaster struck Ahmedabad this afternoon when Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) at 1:39 PM IST.
The aircraft plunged into the densely populated Meghaninagar area near the airport perimeter, sparking a massive fire and prompting an urgent rescue operation.
The flight, commanded by Captain Sumit Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with 8,200 hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kunder, with 1,100 hours, issued a "Mayday" call to air traffic control (ATC) moments after departing from Runway 23 at 13:39 IST (08:09 UTC).
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft failed to respond to subsequent ATC communications and crashed outside the airport perimeter. FlightRadar24 reported the plane’s signal was lost at an altitude of 625 feet, seconds after take-off.
Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene: a loud explosion followed by thick plumes of black and grey smoke rising from the crash site. "Everyone is running right now trying to save as many lives as possible," reported the BBC’s Roxy Gagdekar from the scene.
Local residents and volunteers rushed to assist before emergency services arrived, with fire engines, ambulances, and six National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams now deployed to extinguish the blaze and rescue survivors. The aircraft, heavily fuelled for the long-haul journey, intensified the fire, complicating efforts.
The passenger manifest included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. Among the passengers was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who is reportedly severely injured. The exact number of casualties remains unconfirmed, though local sources fear significant loss of life due to the crash’s proximity to a residential area. Bodies are still being recovered, and a green corridor has been established to transport the injured to nearby hospitals, including Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital.
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik confirmed the crash in Meghaninagar but noted that details about the aircraft and incident are still unclear. All roads around the site have been sealed to facilitate rescue operations, and SVPIA has suspended all flight operations until further notice.
Air India issued a statement on X: “Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest.” A dedicated hotline (1800 5691 444) has been set up for families seeking information.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, after discussions with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner, assured full central government support, including NDRF deployment.
Chief Minister Patel, who rushed from Surat to Ahmedabad, ordered immediate rescue and relief efforts on a “war footing” and prioritized medical treatment for the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally spoke with Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu, who is en route to the crash site to oversee operations, instructing all agencies to provide swift assistance.
Political leaders across India expressed grief. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called the incident “tragic” and prayed for survivors, while Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav urged prompt clarification to address public concerns.
Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran conveyed condolences, stating, “Our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families.”
The DGCA and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have launched a probe, with a technical team dispatched to analyse flight data, black box recordings, and crash site evidence. Boeing may also join the investigation.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, known for its advanced safety features, marks its first crash since its introduction in 2011, raising questions about the cause of this rare tragedy.
As rescue efforts continue, the nation awaits further details on the cause and the full extent of the loss. The crash, occurring in a residential area, has heightened concerns about its impact on both passengers and local residents. Updates will be provided as more information emerges.
