A horrific tragedy happened in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon when an Air India flight to London crashed shortly after take-off, sending reverberations throughout the country. The incident, involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, occurred at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport and has triggered a massive emergency response. With the help of this piece, I hope to outline the available information regarding the accident, its consequences, and the subsequent inquiry.
Crash Sequence Chronology: Second Mark Post Departure
Flight AI171, inaugurating the Ahmedabad to London Gatwick route, took off at 1:38 PM IST on 12th June, 2025. Within five minutes post departure, the aircraft lost signal and went down somewhere in Meghani Nagar, close to the airport. Eyewitness accounts describe seeing the aircraft engulfed in flames with thick black smoke issuing from the crash site, visible from several kilometers out.
Passengers and the Crew on Board
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the flight carried a total of two hundred and forty-two individuals, comprising two hundred and thirty passengers together with twelve crew members aboard. The airplane was under Captain Sumeet Sabharwal’s command, with First Officer Clive Kundar as his assistant. Given the long-haul flight to London, the plane was laden with fuel, which likely intensified the fire post-crash.
Emergency Response Operations and Rescue Activities
The moment the crash took place, fire brigades, ambulances, and all other rescue teams were already on the way to the scene to mitigate any potential fire and assist any possible survivors. In order to conduct the rescue operations smoothly and to keep the public safe, Meghani Nagar had to be completely sealed. Right now, we cannot confirm the number of survivors or casualties there are, but we do ask the public to stay patient as we continue the rescue efforts.
Impact on the Ground: Chaos and Panic
The crash site is located in the middle of a very populated residential area, which contributed to the panic of the local residents. Due to the combination of explosions and thick smoke, people were rushing to leave nearby buildings while the authorities were trying to control the situation. The hospitals in Ahmedabad were also put on high alert, which meant that they had to be ready to accept any new patients.
Initial Statements and Inquiry
Various Air India officials and the airport authorities have accepted the incident, but they have not yet released any detailed statements regarding the crash’s root cause. The DGCA has commenced a full investigation, and technical teams are likely to scrutinize the flight data recorders and cockpit audio to understand the factors that led to the tragedy. Preliminary reports indicate that the aircraft crashed during the critical take-off phase, but the exact details are still unclear.
Mourning and Awaiting Official Statements
This tragic incident has caused shock not only to the families but to the entire country as well as they await news on the individuals who were onboard. The government and Air India, as a collective, have provided assurance to their citizens that they are doing everything possible to both save lives and assist in providing relief to the bereaved families. As the investigation progresses, the foremost priorities are rescue, relief operations, and unraveling the truth behind one of the most tragic air disasters in the recent history of Indian aviation.
