Air India Flight AI 171 Crashes After Takeoff in Ahmedabad

An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, Flight AI 171, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, carrying approximately 242 people. Thick black smoke and visible flames prompted an extensive emergency response, and the airport has been temporarily closed for rescue operations.

Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025 – An Air India Boeing 787 carrying 242 passengers, operating as Flight AI 171 to London Gatwick, crashed moments after departing from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The plane went down near the Meghani Nagar area, alarming locals and triggering a major emergency mobilization.

Image source:-hindustantimes

Eyewitness reports describe a loud explosion upon impact, followed by a massive fireball and thick black smoke that filled the skies above Meghani Nagar and surrounding residential zones. Over five fire units were deployed to extinguish the blaze as dozens of ambulances assisted in rescue efforts.

Exactly 2:38 PM IST, Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed authorities there were no confirmed casualty figures yet. He connected with Gujarat CM Bhupendrabhai Patel and the state Home Minister, offering central government support for rescue and relief operations.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Indian Railways’ Commissioner of Railway Safety are on the scene, investigating potential causes such as runway collision, mechanical failures, or radar signal loss shortly after takeoff. The aircraft’s last contact was recorded seconds into departure.

Airport Status & Public Response

The airport has been temporarily shut down until runway clearance is complete. Ground, fire, and medical teams are working around the clock to support rescue operations and control the intense blaze. Nearby residents were evacuated from impacted buildings.

Social media was flooded with raw visuals from the crash site—smoke plumes, burning debris, and fumes rising near homes and roads—raising fresh concerns over civil safety near airport perimeters.

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