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In one of India’s worst aviation disasters in recent years, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed less than a minute after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, killing at least 265 people. The aircraft, bound for London with 242 people on board, crashed into the BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital complex, bursting into flames and causing casualties both in the aircraft and on the ground.

The twin-engine aircraft, operating as AI 171, had just taken off at 1:39 pm when it issued a ‘Mayday’ distress signal to Air Traffic Control (ATC). Shortly after, the plane lost altitude and slammed into the multi-storey hostel buildings and residential quarters associated with the hospital and college complex.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanan Desai, “265 bodies have reached the city civil hospital as per the message we received.” Many of the victims were charred beyond recognition. Among the deceased were four MBBS students and the wife of a doctor, as several parts of the aircraft struck the building’s dining area at lunchtime, when many students were present.

#WATCH | Gujarat: Anxious family members gather outside the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad as they rush here to get an update about their loved ones who were on board the ill-fated London-bound Air India aircraft.

A man breaks down and pleads with the authority to let him in. pic.twitter.com/BPq5GZnL1p

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2025

 

Miraculously, one passenger, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was seated in seat 11A, survived the crash. Television footage showed him walking after the crash, though he was later admitted to the trauma ward of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. “The good news is that one person survived the crash and I am coming here after meeting him,” said Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He added, “There was 1.25 lakh litres of fuel inside the plane and it caught heat so it was impossible to save anyone.”

Of the 230 passengers on board, Air India confirmed that 169 were Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. The remaining 12 were two pilots and 10 cabin crew members. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was also among those who perished in the crash, according to BJP leader C R Paatil.

Air India tweets, "...We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital. The passengers comprised 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals and 1 Canadian national. The… pic.twitter.com/cOIUFYqZap

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2025

The aircraft was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had logged 8,200 flight hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, with 1,100 hours. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated, “The aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1339 IST from Runway 23. It gave a MAYDAY call to ATC, but thereafter no response was given by the aircraft to the calls made by ATC.”

Eyewitnesses in the area described terrifying scenes. “The plane was flying very low and it crashed into the residential quarters of doctors and nursing staff of Civil Hospital and BJ Medical College,” said Haresh Shah. Several multi-storey buildings, trees, and parked cars were also engulfed in flames following the crash.

Visuals from the wreckage showed bodies being carried out, and injured passengers and residents being rushed to the nearby city civil hospital. The intensity of the explosion also caused damage to buildings and triggered fires across the crash site. One image showed the aircraft’s nose protruding from the top floor of a hostel building.

Officials are still searching for the aircraft’s black box — the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder — to determine what caused the aircraft to crash within minutes of departure. Aviation experts speculated that a dual engine thrust failure or a bird strike might be possible causes, noting that the aircraft only climbed to about 600-800 feet before plummeting.

#WATCH | Punjab: Ludhiana BJP pays tribute to former Gujarat CM and party incharge of Punjab, Vijay Rupani, who died in the London-bound Air India plane crash that occurred in Ahmedabad today. pic.twitter.com/sElfVjrjZx

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2025

This was the first major crash involving a Boeing Dreamliner, a model known for its advanced safety features. It also marked India’s worst aviation disaster since the 2020 Kozhikode crash, where 21 people were killed.

In light of the tragedy, airport operations in Ahmedabad were temporarily suspended but later resumed by evening.

The shockwaves of the crash were felt globally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected."

Also Read: Former-Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani among 241 killed in AI crash

British King Charles III and Queen Camilla also expressed their condolences, stating, “Our special prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected by this appallingly tragic incident across so many nations, as they await news of their loved ones.”

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer added, "The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating."

Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran said an emergency centre had been activated and that support teams were working with the families of those affected. CEO and MD Campbell Wilson said, "The injured passengers have been taken by local authorities to the nearest hospitals. We are actively working with the authorities on all emergency response efforts. This is a difficult day for all of us at the airline."

Gujarat’s health department said DNA tests would be conducted to identify the deceased due to the extent of burn injuries. Over 200 bodies were reportedly recovered from the crash site. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing released a statement saying it was in contact with Air India and stood ready to provide support to the airline and authorities.

This tragic crash is the second major air disaster in Ahmedabad, following the 1988 Indian Airlines crash that killed 130 people on final approach to the same airport.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air India have issued emergency hotline numbers for relatives and concerned citizens:

• Ministry of Civil Aviation: 011-24610843 | 9650391859
• Air India Passenger Hotline: 1800 5691 444
• Ahmedabad City Police: 07925620359

Rescue operations are still ongoing, and authorities have not ruled out the possibility of more casualties. Senior government officials are monitoring the situation closely, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit the crash site soon.

Also Read: Amit Shah reviews situation in Ahmedabad, meets survivor