Photo: Archive 787 Air India, M. van Leeuwen
Updated 16:54 GMT 14-06-2025
Date: 12 June 2025
Location: Meghani Nagar, near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (Ahmedabad)
Flight: AI 171, Ahmedabad–London (Gatwick)
Aircraft: Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, reg. VT‑ANB
Passengers & Crew Of the 242 occupants, one passenger survived.
Since local media report 275 bodies have been recovered, at least 33 persons on the ground have been killed in the accident.
Summary: The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, came down in a residential area near airport perimeter wall. Emergency services were rapidly deployed; thick black smoke reported.
Incident Overview
Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner operating between Ahmedabad and London Gatwick, crashed on Thursday afternoon shortly after departure. Though scheduled for a 13:10 IST takeoff, the flight may have lifted off around 13:38 IST. The aircraft reportedly flew only meters from the runway before descending into Meghani Nagar, a densely populated residential zone close to the airport
Visuals from the scene depict heavy plumes of grey-black smoke rising into the air as fire crews and ambulances continued rescue operations. Local authorities have cordoned off area roads to aid emergency services.
Videos of the accident show that the aircraft remained airborne for about 30 seconds. After taking off from runway 23, it climbed for approximately 12 seconds. The aircraft then began to lose altitude, with the landing gear still extended. The main landing gear struck the top floor of a hostel building for doctors, which housed a restaurant. The tail section then hit the roof and separated from the rest of the aircraft. The remaining fuselage continued forward and caught fire as it descended. The front of the aircraft crashed into the Atulyam-11 residential quarters, which accommodate undergraduate and postgraduate doctors. The midsection was scattered across a garden and an adjacent road. The first point of impact was located 1.5 kilometers southwest of the runway’s end.
Aircraft & Passengers
The aircraft involved is a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, registration VT‑ANB, carrying 242 passengers and crew.
Given its long-haul destination, the aircraft was fully fuelled for the UK flight, raising serious concerns about fire severity and environmental consequences Aircraft make-up, including crew complement and payload, remains under investigation.
Response & Investigation
Emergency crews, including fire, police, paramedics, and disaster response teams, have been deployed en masse. Authorities have sealed off road access in and around Meghani Nagar. At the time of writing, no official casualty count has been released, although fatalities and injuries are feared likely given the crash dynamics and location
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), operating under the Ministry of Civil Aviation and following ICAO Annex 13 guidance, will lead the official probe. A technical team—including Boeing representatives—is expected to recover and analyze flight data recorders (FDR) and cockpit voice recorders (CVR)
Safety Context
India’s rapid aviation growth has tight safety oversight, especially in populated areas surrounding airports. This incident recalls past accidents involving wide-bodied aircraft – notably, the 2020 Kozhikode Air India Express runway excursion – underscoring ongoing concerns about airport perimeters and approach procedures.
The Dreamliner variant involved is among Air India’s flagship long-haul assets, featuring advanced GEnx engines and composite fuselage. VT‑ANB has served the Ahmedabad‑London route routinely, making this accident one of the most serious in Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet history
What’s Next
- Official statements from Air India and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are awaited.
- AAIB and Boeing technical teams to recover FDR/CVR and airframe sections.
- Preliminary findings on flight path, mechanical health, crew communication, and ATC interaction expected in coming days.
