🛑 Air India Flight AI171 Crashes Near Ahmedabad – First Ever Boeing 787 Dreamliner Accident in India
📅 Updated: June 12, 2025 | ✈️ Aircraft: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (VT-ANB)
📍 Location: Meghani Nagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
👥 Onboard: Approx. 242 people (230 passengers + 12 crew)
🔎 Investigating: DGCA, AAIB, Air India
📰 What Happened
On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flying from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed less than 1 minute after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft lost altitude and disappeared from radar at approximately 625 feet, crashing in the nearby Meghani Nagar residential zone around 1:38 pm IST.
This marks the first-ever fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
✈️ Flight & Passenger Details
| Feature | Information |
|---|---|
| ✈️ Aircraft | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (VT-ANB) |
| 🧑✈️ Operator | Air India |
| 🎯 Destination | London Gatwick (LGW) |
| 🛫 Origin | Ahmedabad (AMD) |
| 👥 Onboard | 242 people (230 passengers + 12 crew) |
| 📡 Lost Signal | ~625 ft altitude in under 1 minute |
Sources: IndiaTimes, Flightradar24, TOI, Guardian
🔥 Crash Site: Meghani Nagar, Ahmedabad
The aircraft crashed into a densely populated residential area near the airport. Thick black smoke was visible for miles. Residents described hearing a loud explosion. Buildings near the site sustained structural damage.
Emergency Response:
Over 12 fire engines, ambulances, and disaster teams rushed to the area.
Local hospitals on alert to treat burn injuries and trauma.
Airport operations were temporarily suspended.
⚠️ What Caused the Crash? (Ongoing Investigation)
Mayday call issued moments before the crash
DGCA, Air India, and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have launched a full-scale investigation
Flight data recorder (black box) recovery is in progress
Mechanical failure, engine malfunction, or bird strike are not ruled out
Preliminary radar data confirms the plane lost control within 60 seconds of takeoff
📢 Reactions from Officials
🗣️ Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation:
“Deeply saddened by the loss. Rescue efforts are underway. The safety of all passengers is our highest priority.”
🗣️ Amit Shah, Union Home Minister:
“Monitoring the crash incident closely. My prayers are with the families affected.”
🗣️ Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran:
“A tragic day. We extend our full support to victims' families and will cooperate fully with investigators.”
🧩 What We Don’t Know Yet
The final casualty count (some sources report fatalities, but unconfirmed)
Whether technical fault or external factors caused the crash
Status of flight crew and ATC communication logs
🧭 What’s Next – Stay Tuned
Official DGCA bulletin expected in the next 24–48 hours
Release of black box analysis to determine cause
Full passenger list and survivor report
Likely review of Boeing 787 fleet across Indian airlines
📲 Stay tuned on this page for live updates and official DGCA releases
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💬 Comment if you're in the area or have information on the incident
❓ Air India Flight AI171 Crash – FAQs
1. What flight was involved in the crash?
Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (VT-ANB), flying from Ahmedabad (AMD) to London Gatwick (LGW).
2. When and where did the crash happen?
The aircraft crashed on June 12, 2025, at approximately 1:38 PM IST in the Meghani Nagar area, shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.
3. How many people were on board?
There were 242 people on board:
230 passengers
12 crew members
4. Were there any survivors?
As of now, survivor and casualty details are not officially confirmed. Rescue efforts are ongoing, and hospitals are on alert to treat survivors.
5. What caused the crash?
The cause is still under investigation by DGCA, AAIB, and Air India.
Potential reasons being examined:
Engine malfunction
Mechanical failure
Bird strike
ATC or pilot error
External sabotage (unconfirmed)
6. Was there a distress call or warning?
Yes. A Mayday signal was reportedly issued moments before the crash, indicating a severe emergency shortly after takeoff.
7. What is the significance of this crash?
This is the first-ever fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in India, marking a major aviation incident for both Air India and Boeing.
8. What has been the response from the government?
Senior officials, including:
Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu
Union Home Minister Amit Shah
have issued statements assuring public safety and promising a detailed probe.
9. What’s happening at the crash site now?
Fire engines, ambulances, and NDRF teams are active on-site.
Airport operations were temporarily suspended.
Local residents are being evacuated for safety.
10. When will the full details be known?
An initial DGCA report is expected in 24–48 hours.
Black box data is being recovered to analyze the aircraft’s final moments.
11. Where can I find official updates?
Follow live updates from:
Major news outlets: Times of India, India Today, The Guardian
12. Is the Boeing 787 fleet grounded?
Not yet. A full review of Boeing 787s in India may be initiated once the investigation yields preliminary findings.
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