Boeing stock falls 7% after Air India 787 Dreamliner crashes near Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff with 242 people onboard
An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London. As visuals of smoke emerged, Boeing shares fell by over 7% in premarket trading. Authorities are investigating, with DGCA confirming a distress call was made.
Boeing shares dropped more than 7% in premarket U.S. trading after an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed on Thursday morning. The aircraft, operating as AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, went down minutes after departure, carrying 242 individuals, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members.
The incident took place in the densely populated Meghaninagar locality near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Eyewitnesses reported a fireball and heavy black smoke emerging from the crash site. Authorities say the aircraft had made a mayday call before losing contact with air traffic control.
Immediate rescue and response
Multiple emergency units responded to the scene. Seven fire engines and several National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) squads were deployed for rescue operations. Several injured individuals were shifted to local hospitals, with green corridors set up to ensure rapid treatment. Although there has been no official confirmation of casualties, preliminary reports indicate the aircraft may have struck residential buildings.
Air India says, "A special team of caregivers from Air India has arrived in Ahmedabad to provide support to our teams on ground. We are working with local authorities to provide necessary assistance and are extending full cooperation to the authorities investigating this¡ pic.twitter.com/O7pcsI3Hon
¡ª ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2025
Flight and crew details
The plane involved was registered as VT-ANB, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, widely regarded as a modern and fuel-efficient aircraft. According to Flightradar24, it had earlier operated a flight from Delhi to Ahmedabad on the same day. The flight crew included Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with over 8,200 flying hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours.
Boeing¡¯s response and market impact
Boeing issued a brief statement acknowledging that it is ¡°aware of initial reports and is working to gather more information.¡± The crash comes at a time when Boeing is attempting to restore confidence in its fleet under new CEO Kelly Orthberg. The company is also working to accelerate aircraft production after facing earlier safety challenges.
Analyst Chris Beauchamp of IG Group described the market reaction as a ¡°knee-jerk¡± one, noting that it may revive concerns about Boeing¡¯s past safety troubles, especially those tied to the 787 line. The crash has also drawn comparisons to previous issues with the 737 MAX series.
Following the incident, Boeing¡¯s shares fell approximately 8%, trading at $196.52 in the premarket.
Investigation underway
A full investigation is underway. India¡¯s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed that both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been located and will be key to determining the cause of the crash. Officials have verified that a distress call was made before the aircraft lost all communication.
India¡¯s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and Home Minister Amit Shah have both issued public condolences. The central government has dispatched additional NDRF teams to assist ongoing rescue and relief operations.
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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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