On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport en route to London Gatwick. The aircraft lost altitude just 30 seconds into the flight and vanished from radar at a dangerously low elevation. The crash occurred in the Meghani Nagar area, where the plane collided with residential buildings, including a doctors’ hostel and medical college, before exploding on impact.
Tragic Casualties
The aircraft was carrying 242 individuals—230 passengers and 12 crew members. At least 204 people aboard were confirmed dead, with additional fatalities on the ground. The deceased included Indian, British, Portuguese, and Canadian nationals.
Remarkably, one British passenger, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, survived the crash with non-fatal injuries. He recalled hearing a loud noise moments after takeoff before the plane went down, after which he escaped the wreckage and fled on foot.
Immediate Response
The crash prompted the immediate closure of Ahmedabad airport. Rescue efforts were swift, with dozens of emergency teams and the National Disaster Response Force deployed to search for survivors and recover remains. Leaders from India and the UK issued statements mourning the loss and offering support to victims’ families.
Possible Causes Under Investigation
Although the official cause has not yet been confirmed, early theories suggest the aircraft may have failed to gain proper lift. Video analysis and witness accounts point to the possibility of:
- Landing gear and wing flaps not deploying correctly
- A mechanical failure in one of the engines
- Issues in aircraft configuration during takeoff
Eyewitness footage suggests that the landing gear was never retracted and the flaps may not have been fully engaged—both critical elements for proper takeoff and climb performance.
Ongoing International Investigation
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is leading the inquiry, supported by the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch and technical experts from the United States. Black box data, cockpit recordings, and radar logs are being examined to determine the sequence of events and pinpoint any technical or human errors.
In Summary
Flight 171’s crash is one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s recent history and marks the first fatal incident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in the country. With over 200 lives lost and global attention focused on the investigation, the findings will be critical in understanding what went wrong and ensuring such a tragedy never happens again.
