“Air India Flight AI171 Crash: 2025 Ahmedabad Tragedy Explained”

June 12, 2025

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner (tail number VT‑ANB), took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, heading towards London Gatwick Airport. The flight was scheduled as a long-haul international journey, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members onboard. Just five minutes after takeoff, at approximately 13:43 IST, the aircraft tragically crashed into the densely populated Meghani Nagar neighborhood, located just a few kilometers from the runway.
Eyewitnesses on the ground reported hearing loud engine noises, followed by a series of explosions. Moments later, the aircraft was seen engulfed in flames, plummeting at a low altitude before it struck a doctor’s hostel adjacent to B.J. Medical College. A massive plume of black smoke billowed into the sky, visible from several kilometers away, triggering panic in the surrounding areas.

🛩️ Flight details & occupants

Aircraft: Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner
Occupants: 242 total (230 passengers, 12 crew)
- Nationalities: 169 Indians, 53 Brits, 7 Portuguese, 1 Canadian npr.org+3en.wikipedia.org+3thesun.ie+3ndtv.com+6cbsnews.com+6theguardian.com+6
Crew: Commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar, with about 8,200 and 1,100 flight hours respectively

✅ Last Moments & Distress Call: What Went Wrong in the Sky

Just after Air India Flight AI171 lifted off from runway 23 at Ahmedabad Airport at 13:38 IST, signs of trouble began to emerge. Within minutes, the aircraft struggled to gain proper altitude, reaching only around 625 feet before leveling off unusually low.

Sensing a serious issue, the pilots issued a “Mayday” distress call, alerting Air Traffic Control to a critical in-flight emergency. Radar and flight tracking data showed the plane was not climbing as expected—indicating either engine failure, loss of thrust, or a mechanical malfunction.

Eyewitnesses and security footage revealed the aircraft flying dangerously low over the city. Moments later, it crashed into a doctor’s hostel near B.J. Medical College, erupting in a massive fireball. Several videos captured the aircraft’s retracted flaps, collapsed landing gear, and no signs of emergency landing procedures, hinting that the crew had little or no time to act.

Contact with the aircraft was lost moments after the distress call—marking the tragic end of Flight AI171, just minutes into its journey.

🚑 Rescue Operations & Casualties

Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene. Over seven fire engines, multiple ambulances, and police units were rushed in from across Ahmedabad to manage the fire, rescue survivors, and secure the crash site.
Sources: Times of India, Wikipedia, The Sun

According to eyewitness reports, the aircraft struck a doctor’s hostel near B.J. Medical College, causing massive structural damage and fires in the surrounding area.
Sources: The Sun, Reuters, Wikipedia

Health Minister has confirmed that “many lives were lost” in the crash. Although official casualty figures have yet to be released, local media reports suggest the death toll may exceed 100.

🌍 Broader Implications

This tragic accident marks the first-ever hull loss involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft’s commercial debut in 2009 — a significant milestone considering the model’s reputation for safety and advanced engineering.
Sources: CBS News, NPR, Business Insider

In immediate market reaction, Boeing’s stock plunged by 7.5%, reflecting investor concern and wider shock across the aviation industry. Analysts are now closely monitoring the potential impact on global Dreamliner operations, airline safety reviews, and Boeing’s future orders.

📉 Boeing (BA) Stock Snapshot – June 12, 2025

Current price: $205.61 (down about 8.4% intraday from previous close) businessinsider.com+2indiatoday.in+2m.economictimes.com+2barrons.com+6m.economictimes.com+6marketwatch.com+6
Premarket plunge: Dropped between 7–8%, with reports ranging from 7.4% to 8.2%
Intraday range: Opened around $202, spiked to $213, then slid to a low near $195.50 investors.com+1finance.yahoo.com+1marketwatch.com+2forbes.com+2m.economictimes.com+2

🔍 Investigations Under Way

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have officially launched a comprehensive investigation into the Air India Flight AI 171 crash.
Sources: Samayam Tamil, Wikipedia, Admiral Cloudberg, Times of India

Key to the inquiry are the aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) — often referred to as the “black boxes” — which have been recovered and will help reconstruct the flight’s final moments.

Investigators are focusing on several potential contributing factors, including:

The aircraft’s full fuel load for its long-haul international route
Performance during takeoff, including engine response and airspeed
Any technical malfunctions or pilot error
Weather conditions and airport infrastructure

Preliminary findings are expected to take weeks, with a detailed accident report to follow.

📌 Official Statements on Air India Flight AI 171 Accident

Air India confirmed that Flight AI 171 “was involved in an accident,” and added that injured passengers are being transported to the nearest hospitals for urgent medical care.
Source: Times of India, CBS News, The Guardian

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu stated he is “personally monitoring the situation”, and has directed all rescue and emergency agencies to remain on the highest alert.
Source: People, CBS News, NPR

Prime Minister Keir Starmer (UK) and Indian Home Minister Amit Shah expressed their deep condolences to the victims and families, assuring full cooperation in rescue, investigation, and recovery efforts.
Source: Wikipedia

✈️ Air India Flight AI 171 Crash – Key Details

Field	Detail
Flight Number	AI 171
Aircraft	Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (Registration: VT-ANB)
Date & Time	12 June 2025, approximately 13:38 IST
Location	Meghani Nagar, near B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Crash Altitude	~625 feet after takeoff from runway 23
Occupants	242 total: 230 passengers + 12 crew members
Fatalities	Official death toll unconfirmed; local media reports over 100
Injuries	Dozens severely injured; several in critical condition
Nationalities	India, UK, Portugal, Canada
Crash Impact	Aircraft struck a doctor’s hostel near B.J. Medical College
Black Boxes	Both Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) recovered
Rescue Efforts	7+ fire engines, ambulances, and police from across Ahmedabad deployed
Investigations	Led by DGCA and AAIB; assisted by international aviation experts
Status	Investigation ongoing – early focus on takeoff performance, fuel load, technical or pilot error

✈️ Air India Major Accidents Timeline (1947–2025)

Year	Flight / Incident	Aircraft Type & Operator	Fatalities	Description
1947–1966 (Early Years)	Multiple incidents involving DC‑3s, Vikings, Constellations	Various propeller & early jets	Dozens	Several crashes in India and abroad—e.g., 1950 Mont Blanc Flight 245 (48 dead), 1966 Mont Blanc Flight 101 (117 dead, included Homi Bhabha) famousfix.com+1reddit.com+1.
1978	Flight 855 (Boeing 747)	Boeing 747‑237B	213	Crashed into the Arabian Sea shortly after takeoff from Mumbai due to spatial disorientation .
1982	Flight 403 (Boeing 707)	Boeing 707‑437	17	Hard landing during heavy rain at Mumbai; fuselage explosion from late go-around .
1985	Flight 182 (Kanishka bombing)	Boeing 747‑237B	329	Bombed mid-air over Atlantic near Ireland; worst tragedy in Air India history .
1988	Ahmedabad crash	Boeing (unspecified)	~124	Crashed near Ahmedabad (local flight) .
1990–1996	Multiple smaller accidents	Boeing & regional jets	Hundreds in Patna, Imphal, Bangalore, Aurangabad	Series of mid-air and approach/landing crashes .
2010	Air India Express Flight 812	Boeing 737‑800 (subsidiary)	158	Overran runway at Mangalore; fell into valley .
2020	Air India Express Flight 1344	Boeing 737‑800 (subsidiary)	21	Tabletop runway overrun in Kozhikode during monsoon .
2025	Flight AI 171	Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner	Unknown	Crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad into residential area—hull loss .

🕰 Mid-century (1947–1966)

A time of frequent accidents as civil aviation was still developing.
Crashes often involved older aircraft and poor visibility.
Hundreds of lives lost cumulatively during this era.

💥 1978–1985: High-Fatality Era

Flight 855 (1978): Crashed into the Arabian Sea after takeoff from Bombay, killing 213 passengers and crew.
Air India Flight 182 (1985): A terrorist bombing over the Atlantic Ocean resulted in 329 fatalities, including 268 Canadians.
This remains India’s worst aviation disaster and one of the deadliest terror attacks involving a commercial aircraft.

✈️ Late 1980s–1990s

Notable crashes include runway overruns and airspace conflicts.
Smaller but deadly accidents collectively led to over 500 deaths in the decade.
Lack of modern safety infrastructure was a major cause.

🔧 2000s Onward: Modernization With Tragedy

Despite improved safety standards, the following major accidents led to heavy loss of life:

Mangalore (2010): Air India Express Flight 812 overshot the runway and plunged into a gorge.
- 158 people died; only 8 survived.
Kozhikode (2020): Flight 1344 skidded off a tabletop runway during heavy rain.
- 21 fatalities, including both pilots and passengers.

⚫ 2025 – Air India Flight AI 171 Crash

The first hull loss of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and a major setback for Air India’s mainline operations.
The crash resulted in over 100 confirmed deaths, making it the deadliest Indian aviation disaster in over three decades.
Many of the victims were medical professionals and students, as the plane struck a doctor’s hostel near B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad.
The tragedy has triggered international investigations, market impacts, and renewed scrutiny of aviation oversight.