Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025 – In a tragic turn of events this afternoon, Air India Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner (registration VT‑ANB), crash-landed in the Meghani Nagar neighbourhood mere minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, bound for London Gatwick. The aircraft departed at 1:38 PM IST, issued a mayday distress call shortly after liftoff, and lost contact at an altitude of approximately 625 ft, crashing into a residential zone five minutes into the flight .

The flight carried 242 people—232 passengers and 12 crew members—including 169 Indians, 53 UK nationals, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian . Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with over 8,200 hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar (approx. 1,100 hours) were on the flight .

Thick black smoke and flaming debris filled the sky above Meghani Nagar, with dramatic footage showing the Dreamliner struggling to gain altitude before crashing . The airport shut down operations and rescue teams, including NDRF and fire services, rushed in, supported by state and national government officials .

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu described the situation as “shocking and devastating,” confirming rescue efforts and declaring full alert status . Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran expressed deep condolences, pledged support for families, and established an emergency response centre .

This is the first-ever hull loss of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its introduction in 2009, and marks a major incident for Air India . The Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Boeing are expected to investigate technical causes, including issues related to a heavily fueled long-haul departure that may have exacerbated the post-crash fire .

As this story is rapidly unfolding, its impact spreads from local rescue efforts in Ahmedabad to global aviation circles. We’ll continue monitoring official statements and updates.