This is the first time a 787 has been destroyed.
Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, 2025. The flight, carrying 242 people, including 169 Indian and 53 British nationals, was headed to London Gatwick. It hit a doctor’s hostel in the Meghaninagar area, causing a massive fire.
The plane, registered as VT-ANB, took off at 1:38 p.m. local time and reached only 625 feet before issuing a Mayday call and losing contact. Thick black smoke and flames were seen as the aircraft slammed into a dining hall at BJ Medical College, killing at least 30, including five students. Emergency teams rushed to the scene.
pic.twitter.com/Q5XlH6xiCL
— Accra Daily Post🗞️ (@accradailypost) June 12, 2025
Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London. All 242 onboard were affected. The crash happened near Meghani, with thick black smoke seen. Emergency teams are on site. It’s the first total loss of a…
Rescue efforts involve the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force, and local firefighters. Over 100 bodies have been recovered, with injured people taken to nearby hospitals. The crash, the first for a Boeing 787, has halted Ahmedabad airport operations. Air India set up a hotline (1800 5691 444) for families.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the crash “heartbreaking,” while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed grief for the victims. The cause is unknown, and a probe involving India’s aviation authorities, Boeing, and the US National Transportation Safety Board is underway. Boeing shares dropped 8% after the news.
The aircraft, delivered to Air India in 2014, had no prior crash history. Videos showed the plane struggling to climb before crashing into the residential area. Authorities are working to clear the site and support affected families, as global leaders offer condolences.