An Air India aircraft en route to London tragically crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people—including 230 passengers and 12 crew members—plummeted into a densely populated residential area within minutes of takeoff.

The flight, designated AI171, had been scheduled for a 1:10 pm departure to Gatwick Airport, London. It took off at 1:38 pm but crashed roughly five minutes later, according to flight tracking data.

According to officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft went down in the Meghani Nagar locality. Plumes of thick, dark smoke were seen billowing from the crash site, with visuals circulating online showing extensive fire and damage to surrounding structures.

Emergency responders, including seven fire tenders, rushed to the scene. Dramatic footage accessed by India Today TV showed the aircraft engulfed in flames upon impact, suggesting it may have struck residential buildings.

The DGCA confirmed that the jet’s command was under Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned pilot with over 8,200 hours of flying time. He was accompanied by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had accumulated 1,100 flying hours. Authorities added that the co-pilot had made a distress call—declaring a "MAYDAY"—shortly before communication was lost.

"Flight AI171, operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, departed at 1:39 pm from Runway 23 and crashed outside the airport perimeter minutes later. A distress signal was received by Air Traffic Control (ATC), but further communication ceased abruptly. Heavy smoke was reported from the impact zone," the DGCA said in its official release.

Rescue efforts were swiftly mobilized, with three teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), comprising 90 personnel, deployed from Gandhinagar. Additional reinforcements were dispatched from Vadodara.

Air India acknowledged the incident in a brief statement posted on X (formerly Twitter):
"Flight AI171, operating on the Ahmedabad–London Gatwick route, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. Details are being verified and will be shared as soon as available."

Flight tracking service Flightradar24 reported that the aircraft involved was registered as VT-ANB and had earlier flown a domestic sector from Delhi to Ahmedabad.

Among the passengers listed was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, according to documents accessed by India Today.

Following the crash, all flight operations at the Ahmedabad airport were temporarily suspended. The airport issued a statement confirming that services were on hold as emergency protocols were being enacted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, upon learning of the disaster, spoke with Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and Home Minister Amit Shah. He directed both ministers to proceed to Ahmedabad and oversee relief operations.

“Agencies are working in close coordination and all emergency measures have been activated,” news agency ANI reported, quoting officials from Minister Naidu’s office.

Air India has made a helpline available for family members seeking information: 1800 5691 444.