On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed into a residential area near Ahmedabad’s airport moments after takeoff. Investigations have now confirmed that no survivors have been found, making this the first-ever fatal crash involving a Dreamliner.
What We Know Now
- Crash location & casualties: The aircraft struck the dining block of a doctors’ hostel at B.J. Medical College in Meghani Nagar. Over 200 bodies have been recovered, including individuals on the ground—many of them medical students.
- Occupancy details: Among those aboard were 169 Indian, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian citizen—plus 12 crew members. Notable passengers included students, a former Gujarat Chief Minister, and other travelers.
- Aircraft altitude and mayday: Flight tracking shows the Mayday call came shortly after reaching just 625 ft altitude. Cockpit communication shut down shortly thereafter, and the plane quickly descended into the residential zone.
Reaction on the Ground
- Fire and rescue operations: Responders arrived swiftly, containing flames and evacuating the area. Around 70–80% of wreckage was cleared by evening. Though there were harrowing scenes—some survivors emerged after jumping from upper floors, others were rushed to hospitals—ultimate recovery has yielded no survivors.
- Victims among locals: Some residents of the hostel were caught in the incident. Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik described a grim scene, reporting “several bodies lying around” at the crash site.
Global Response
- Indian government: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound sorrow, calling the crash “heartbreaking beyond words.” A special support center for affected families has been activated.
- UK reaction: King Charles III and Prime Minister Keir Starmer voiced deep condolences. The UK Foreign Office is coordinating with Indian authorities and establishing aid centers in Ahmedabad and London.
- Boeing & Air India: Boeing confirmed full cooperation in the investigation and noted a drop in its stock prices. Air India’s chair and Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu pledged full support for rescue and recovery operations.
Why It’s Historic & Alarming
- Dreamliner milestone: This marks the first fatal incident involving the Boeing 787 since its debut in 2011—until now celebrated for its strong safety record.
- Regulatory and public concern: Global scrutiny on air safety, maintenance protocols, and real-time monitoring is intensifying in wake of this rare tragedy. Investigators from India’s AAIB, the DGCA, Boeing, and the U.S. NTSB are coordinating to uncover the cause.
What’s Next
- Search resets: With rescue efforts ending, the focus has shifted to retrieving victims and supporting families. This will be followed closely by forensic review and flight data recovery.
- Investigation underway: Authorities will analyze cockpit voice and flight data recorders. Mechanical and human-error scenarios—especially concerning flaps, landing gear, or engine failure—are being explored.
- Flight disruptions: Airlines are re-routing or delaying flights to and from Ahmedabad as part of ongoing safety audits and runway assessments.
Stay Connected
This is a fast-evolving story. Stay tuned here for:
- Confirmed casualty and survivor numbers
- Technical investigation outcomes
- Statements from airline regulators and manufacturers
References
- Guardian – “Apparently no survivors after Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad…”
- IndiaTimes – “Air India Ahmedabad–London flight crash: Dreamliner explodes into hostel…”
- People.com – “King Charles ‘Desperately Shocked’…”
- Business Insider – “No survivors expected after Air India Boeing 787 crashed…”
