Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed less than a minute after taking off from Ahmedabad, India, on June 12. The flight carried 244 people—232 passengers and 12 crew members—when it slammed into a doctors’ hostel near the airport, killing at least 30 people initially, with the death toll expected to rise. The aircraft lost signal at just 625 feet above ground, according to FlightRadar.
The crash occurred in a densely populated area, and footage captured the plane flying low before exploding on impact, sending thick black smoke into the sky. Rescue teams rushed to the scene, including six emergency response units, who began pulling victims from the debris and transporting injured survivors to local hospitals. Authorities confirmed 53 British nationals were on board, along with 169 Indian citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian.
New Delhi TV journalist Dishha Bagchi reported that some individuals were taken to hospitals alive, though exact survival figures remain unclear. As the situation unfolded, shocking images circulated online showing wreckage across rooftops and a large section of the plane embedded in the hostel building.
Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran issued a public statement expressing sorrow over the tragedy and pledged full support to emergency teams and affected families. An emergency center has been activated to assist loved ones of the victims.
World leaders reacted with grief. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the incident “devastating,” while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as “heartbreaking beyond words,” offering condolences and solidarity with those affected.
