New Delhi: In what is being described as one of the worst aviation disasters in Indian history, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport.
The aircraft, operating as Flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, plunged into a residential complex near BJ Medical College, killing 241 people on board.
The ill-fated flight had 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, and two pilots. According to officials, only one person, a British national of Indian origin seated in 11A, survived the crash and is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
The aircraft took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.38 p.m. (IST) on Thursday before losing control moments later and crashing into a densely populated area, igniting a massive blaze and triggering emergency response teams across the city.
Air India confirmed the accident in an official statement on X: “UPDATE: Air India confirms that flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on 12 June 2025, was involved in an accident. The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew. The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off. We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital.”
The airline also shared the nationality breakdown of passengers: 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.
“Air India offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected, their families and loved ones. A team of caregivers from Air India is now in Ahmedabad to provide additional support,” the statement added.
The national carrier has pledged full cooperation with authorities investigating the cause of the crash and has established dedicated helplines for families seeking information.
Domestic callers can reach the support team at 1800 5691 444, while international callers are advised to dial +91 8062779200.
Regular updates will be provided through Air India’s official website and its X handle.
IANS
Vadodara bridge collapse: Death toll rises to 9, PM Modi expresses grief
Vadodara: The death toll in the Vadodara bridge collapse mounted to nine, said officials here on Wednesday. Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced...
Flash floods wash away Nepal-China trade route, leave 8 dead
Kathmandu: At least eight people died and 19 have gone missing in the flash floods that struck Nepal's Rasuwa district, according to Nepal Police. The missing reportedly included 11 Nepali...
Death toll in Telangana factory blast rises to 44
Hyderabad: The death toll in the blast in Sigachi Industries Ltd's manufacturing unit in Pashamylaram near Hyderabad rose to 44 with two injured succumbing on Tuesday. According to officials,...
Train rams into TN school van: Two students die, railway gatekeeper suspended
Chennai: In the wake of a tragic accident involving a school van and a speeding train near Semmanguppam in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district, railway authorities have suspended the gatekeeper for...
Telangana factory blast: 40 killed, 33 injured, says Sigachi Industries
Hyderabad: Sigachi Industries said on Wednesday that the blast at its facility at Pashamylaram in Telangana resulted in the death of 40 people and left 33 injured. The company issued...
Iranian President issues order to suspend cooperation with IAEA
Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday issued an order to enact a law to suspend the country's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The law calls for...
Telangana pharma unit blast: Search continues for 13 missing workers
Hyderabad: Search for 13 missing workers following the blast at a pharmaceutical unit at Pashamyalaram near Hyderabad continued on Wednesday. More than 48 hours after the blast at Sigachi Industries...
Death toll in Telangana pharma unit blast mounts to 36
Hyderabad: The death toll in the explosion in a pharmaceutical unit at Pashamylaram near Hyderabad mounted to 36 on Tuesday. With some of the injured succumbing at hospitals and rescue...
13 killed in chemical factory blast in Telangana
Hyderabad: A massive explosion at an industrial unit in Telangana’s Sangareddy district claimed the lives of 13 workers and left 35 others injured on Monday. The blast occurred in a...
List of four deadly religious stampedes in 2025
New Delhi: India has witnessed a series of tragic religious stampedes in 2025, which raised significant concerns about crowd management and public safety at large religious gatherings. From Jagannath Yatra...
Two dead, 7 missing after cloudburst in Uttarkashi; CM Dhami says rescue ops underway
Uttarkashi: At least two labourers lost their lives, and seven others are still missing after a devastating cloudburst triggered a landslide in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district early on Sunday. The incident...
Stampede during Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri, three killed
New Delhi: At least three people, including two women, died and 10 others were injured in a stampede during the Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri. The incident occurred around 4.30...
