An Air India flight en route to London with 242 people on board crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon, officials confirmed.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner (registration VT-ANB), was operating as Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. It departed from Runway 23 at 1:39 PM IST (0809 UTC) but soon issued a MAYDAY distress signal. Communication with air traffic control was lost shortly thereafter.
“Immediately after departure from Runway 23, the aircraft fell on the ground outside the airport perimeter. Heavy black smoke was seen coming from the accident site,” a senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official told reporters.
Crew Experience
The Dreamliner was commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with over 8,200 flight hours, and assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 hours of flying experience. There were 230 passengers and 12 crew members on board.
Air India Confirms Incident
In an official statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Air India said:
“Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest on http://airindia.com and on our X handle.”
Ongoing Response
Emergency services, including fire and rescue teams, rushed to the crash site, where thick plumes of smoke were visible. Rescue operations and investigations are currently underway.
The airport has suspended all flight operations until further notice. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates.
More information is awaited as authorities continue to assess the situation.