A devastating air tragedy unfolded near Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon, as an Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in at least 133 fatalities.
The aircraft, operating as Flight AI171, took off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:17 PM. Just minutes into the journey, the plane went down near the Meghaninagar area, close to Dharpur, sending plumes of smoke into the sky. Emergency services, including fire and rescue teams, responded swiftly, but the scale of the destruction has made rescue efforts challenging. The cause of the crash remains unknown at this time.
Onboard were 232 passengers and 10 crew members. According to initial reports, the flight included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese passengers, and one Canadian.
The crash has prompted an outpouring of grief and swift responses from top government officials. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed their condolences to the victims’ families. Prime Minister Modi also spoke with Home Minister Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, directing them to travel to Ahmedabad and oversee relief operations.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been coordinating with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and senior officials in the state. He has pledged full central government support to local authorities. Civil Aviation Minister Naidu has also departed for the crash site to assess the situation firsthand.
Air India confirmed the accident in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying:
“Flight AI171, en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an incident on June 12, 2025. We are gathering more information and will share updates through our official channels.”
Air India’s Chairman expressed deep sorrow over the incident, stating:
“We are heartbroken by the loss of Flight AI171. Our thoughts are with every family affected by this unimaginable tragedy. Our immediate focus is on supporting survivors and assisting emergency responders. We are fully committed to offering all necessary help to those impacted.”
This incident is now among the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s recent history. Authorities have launched a full investigation, and more details are expected as recovery efforts progress.
