Tragedy Strikes Near Ahmedabad: Air India Dreamliner Crashes Minutes After Takeoff with 244 Onboard
On the morning of June 12, 2025, what should have been a routine journey from Ahmedabad to London turned into a national calamity when Air India flight AI171, operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed mere minutes after departure.
This devastating event marked the first fatal accident involving the otherwise trusted Dreamliner aircraft model, shaking India’s aviation community and the world.
Carrying 244 souls—232 passengers, including a majority of Indian nationals alongside UK citizens, and 12 crew members—the flight sent a distress signal shortly after lifting off but lost all communication as it hovered barely 625 feet above the ground.
Within moments, the aircraft plummeted into a densely populated area near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, colliding with a doctors’ hostel affiliated with B.J. Medical College.
Rescue operations began immediately as thick smoke billowed from the wreckage. So far, authorities have recovered between 30 and 35 bodies, though many more remain trapped under the rubble, including residents and medical students living nearby. The clear weather offered no explanation, deepening the mystery surrounding the crash.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has taken charge of the crisis response, while the airport remains closed as investigators sift through the debris and data to uncover what went wrong. The disaster adds to the mounting scrutiny faced by Boeing, which is still grappling with questions over the safety of its aircraft designs, including the troubled 737 series.
Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded in hospitals as anxious families waited for news. One mother recounted her son’s harrowing escape from a second-floor window, a rare tale of survival amid the tragedy. Yet, countless others were not as fortunate.
This incident stands as one of the darkest moments in Indian aviation history, underscoring the precariousness of air travel despite technological advances.
As the nation mourns, the focus turns to the survivors and the brave first responders who risked everything. The tragedy leaves a lasting scar but also ignites calls for enhanced safety measures and accountability, with hopes that future flights will be safer for all who take to the skies.