On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner (registration VT‑ANB), crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, en route to London Gatwick. The aircraft lost contact mere seconds after issuing a mayday call and plunged into the Meghani Nagar district, colliding with a building associated with B.J. Medical College.

Victims & Survivor

• Of the 242 people onboard (230 passengers and 12 crew), at least 204 bodies have been recovered, though the exact death toll remains uncertain and could be as high as 241.
  
  
• The passenger manifest included 169 Indian, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian
  
  
• Miraculously, one confirmed survivor—believed to be seated at 11A—was found and hospitalized.
  
  
• On the ground, the aircraft struck a medical college’s dining block, tragically killing at least five students and causing many injuries among those present.

Scene of Devastation

The plane reached an altitude of just around 625 feet before it descended dramatically and exploded in a flare of black smoke and fire. Video footage shows a rapid descent ending in a fiery impact in a dense residential area, igniting buildings and igniting chaos among onlookers. Rescue teams swiftly integrated fire crews and emergency responders to evacuate tens of injured individuals to nearby hospitals.

Official Response

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the crash as “heartbreaking beyond words,” extending condolences and vowing government support.
  
  
• Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu declared a high-alert status, closely coordinating rescue operations and offering personal oversight until the situation stabilized.
  
  
• Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, as well as Boeing, expressed deep sorrow. Boeing, facing its first fatal Dreamliner crash, pledged full cooperation with investigators.
  
  
• International condolences have poured in from world leaders including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, King Charles, Pope Leo XIV, and the U.S. President, all commiserating with families and offering assistance.
  
  

Investigation & Aftermath

• Aviation regulators have launched a full-scale inquiry. U.K. and U.S. investigators are assisting India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), with early focus on whether technical faults—such as landing gear or flap malfunctions—played a role .
  
  
• The black box has been recovered and is currently under analysis to determine precise causes of the failure.
  
  
• Ahmedabad Airport has temporarily suspended all operations to support rescue and recovery efforts.

A Defining Aviation Disaster

This marks the first-ever hull loss and fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 since its commercial debut in 2011. It has tragically become the deadliest aviation disaster of the 2020s and the worst commercial crash since Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014. The incident represents Air India’s most devastating accident in nearly a decade.

What’s Next

• Investigators will scrutinize aircraft systems, maintenance logs, and crew communications.
  
  
• Additional data from radar, CCTV, and witness statements is being pieced together.
  
  
• Support systems—including hotlines, financial aid, and DNA identification efforts—are in place for victims’ families, notably under the Tata Group umbrella .

This harrowing incident has plunged India and the international air travel community into mourning. Its full impact on aviation safety, regulatory oversight, and passenger confidence remains to be revealed as investigators pursue answers.