Ahmedabad | 12 June 2025, 1:38 PM IST — In a tragic development, an Air India international flight en route to London Gatwick has crashed near a residential area in Ahmedabad, shortly after takeoff. Early reports suggest casualties are likely, although exact numbers remain unconfirmed.
BREAKING | Veritas Times Exclusive
Flight Details
Flight: Air India AI171
Aircraft: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
Route: Ahmedabad (India) → London Gatwick (UK)
Persons Onboard: 244 total (232 passengers + 12 crew members)
Crash Timeline
The aircraft lost contact with air traffic control barely five minutes into the flight. Flight tracking data shows the plane only reached an altitude of 625 feet before disappearing from radar. Moments later, it crashed into the Meghani Nagar residential zone, close to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Eyewitnesses reported a massive explosion, followed by thick black smoke billowing into the sky. Emergency responders were immediately dispatched to the site, where a fire continues to burn.
Rescue Operations Underway
Multiple fire brigades, ambulances, and NDRF units have arrived on site. Authorities are currently working to extinguish the flames and rescue any survivors trapped in the debris. Locals are being evacuated from surrounding buildings as a precautionary measure.
Official Reactions & Emergency Measures
Air India has activated its Emergency Response Center, stating that it will provide full support to the families of the victims.
Civil Aviation Secretary Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu confirmed he is personally overseeing the situation and has ordered coordinated rescue operations.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced that all government machinery has been mobilized, and top-priority medical assistance is being arranged for the injured.
Special Passenger Onboard?
Unconfirmed reports suggest that former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani may have been among the passengers. An official confirmation is still awaited, but security agencies have been alerted.
Investigation & Next Steps
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air India have initiated a joint inquiry into the crash. Preliminary suspicions include a technical malfunction or possible loss of engine power during the climb-out phase. The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder will be key to unraveling the cause.
Impact & Implications
The incident is likely to have significant implications for India's aviation safety record, especially since the aircraft involved—a Boeing 787 Dreamliner—is considered one of the safest in its class. It may also intensify scrutiny of Air India’s fleet maintenance post-privatization.