A devastating air tragedy struck on Thursday, when Air India flight AI171, en route to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft lost contact with air traffic control just moments after declaring a distress call. The crash occurred just outside the airport boundary.
Air India acknowledged the incident in an official statement shared on social media, saying, "Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad–London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025."
Boeing 787 Crashed Minutes After Takeoff
According to a detailed report released by the DGCA, the aircraft involved in the incident was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, registered VT-ANB. The flight departed from Runway 23 at 1:39 pm IST (08:09 UTC). Soon after takeoff, the flight crew issued a "MAYDAY" distress call. However, no further communication was received before the aircraft crashed.
The DGCA stated, "The aircraft, immediately after departure from Runway 23, fell on the ground outside the airport perimeter. Heavy black smoke was seen coming from the accident site."
242 People Were On Board
The DGCA confirmed that a total of 242 people were on board the aircraft at the time of the crash. This included 230 passengers, along with 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew members. The flight was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain (LTC) with 8,200 hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours of flight time.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the crash, and rescue and recovery operations are underway. Updates are expected to be shared through Air India’s official website and social media platforms as the situation develops.
Also Read: Plane with 242 on board crashes in Ahmedabad
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