Ahmedabad Air India flight with 242 onboard crashes minutes after take-off, thick smoke engulfs city as rescue ops begin
A London-bound Air India Dreamliner with 242 people onboard crashed just minutes after take-off near Ahmedabad. Fire engines rushed in as thick smoke filled the skies. Top ministers responded swiftly while officials confirmed visuals from Meghaninagar and beyond.
An Air India flight headed to London crashed near Ahmedabad shortly after take-off on Thursday afternoon. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, identified as Flight AI171, had 242 people onboard ¡ª including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The flight departed from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:17 pm. Emergency teams reached the crash site, where heavy smoke was seen in the sky, as officials worked to confirm further details about the incident.
Initial reports confirm high casualty potential
Early reports stated that the crash took place soon after take-off, near the Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad. Visuals from the area showed thick, dark smoke rising and visible from locations as far as Dharpur. The aircraft, a Dreamliner operated by Air India, was scheduled to fly to London¡¯s Gatwick Airport as part of its regular 1:10 pm service.
Although flight trackers confirmed the departure of the aircraft at 1:17 pm, the plane reportedly lost control minutes later, leading to the accident. Officials are currently working to determine the cause and scale of damage.
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¡ª Vijaykumar Desai (@KumarVijayDesai) June 12, 2025
Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today#Ahmedabadplanecrash #london #planecrash #Ahmedabad #AirIndia pic.twitter.com/XFKVYVPf5k
Fire engines and emergency teams mobilised
Following the crash, emergency response was initiated immediately. Seven fire engines were dispatched to the area. Search and rescue operations are underway, as local authorities continue to coordinate with aviation personnel to manage the situation. The crash site has been cordoned off to prevent civilian movement and ensure unhindered rescue efforts.
Ministers respond to incident
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the Gujarat Chief Minister and the Police Commissioner in connection with the crash. Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu is expected to reach Ahmedabad, having departed from Vijayawada shortly after learning about the crash. Government officials are monitoring the situation closely.
While initial estimates placed the number of passengers at 130, later confirmations by airline sources indicated 230 passengers along with 12 crew members onboard at the time of departure. No confirmation about survivors or fatalities has been released yet.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash as rescue operations continue near the Ahmedabad airport crash site.
Nancy Jaiswal is a journalist who started her career in reporting and has covered both hard and soft news. From serious city news developments to lighthearted lifestyle pieces, she has written on almost everything hapenning in India (except maybe alien invasions¡ªyet!). For her, writing isn¡¯t just work; it¡¯s a passion, an obsession, and sometimes the reason she forgets to reply to texts.
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