On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 people on board, tragically crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India. The aircraft was en route to London Gatwick Airport. The crash occurred around 1:38 PM local time in the Meghani Nagar residential area, approximately five minutes after departure. The plane lost signal at an altitude of 625 feet and fell outside the airport perimeter, resulting in significant damage and a large fire
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft issued a MAYDAY distress call shortly after takeoff, but subsequent communications were lost. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the crash
Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran expressed deep sorrow and pledged support for the affected families and emergency response teams. The airline has activated an emergency center to assist those seeking information and provide support to the victims’ families
