Air India flight crashes shortly after takeoff with 242 on board
- An Air India flight carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport.
- The flight was headed for London Gatwick and included individuals from various nationalities.
- Immediate rescue operations were initiated to address the situation and provide medical aid.
On June 12, 2025, an Air India airliner crash-landed in the Meghaninagar area, shortly after departure from Ahmedabad International Airport in India. The flight, designated as AI171, was en route to London Gatwick and had taken off at 13:38 hours local time. It was carrying a total of 242 individuals, comprising 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 1 Canadian national, and 7 Portuguese nationals. Local officials confirmed the incident, which left heavy black smoke billowing from the crash site, indicating a severe situation. Reports from the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation revealed that the flight fell outside the airport perimeter immediately after takeoff. At the time of the incident, the captain of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had over 8,200 hours of flying experience, while the co-pilot possessed a little over 1,100 hours of experience in the cockpit. The Indian Civil Aviation Minister was quick to respond to the tragedy, instructing all relevant aviation and emergency response agencies to engage in a coordinated reaction to the crash. Rescue teams were mobilized without delay, and medical aid and relief support were dispatched to the accident site to assist potential survivors and to analyze the situation effectively. As of today, the airline is still in the process of determining the cause and specifics surrounding this catastrophic event. This story continues to develop, and updates are expected as further investigations unfold.