Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025 – This afternoon, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner registered VT‑ANB, bound for London Gatwick, crashed within 30 seconds of takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft was carrying 242 people—230 passengers and 12 crew—when it lost altitude and descended into a residential building in the Meghani Nagar district.
Confirmed figures highlight the scale of the disaster: at least 204 bodies have been recovered from the crash scene. With victims on the ground included, total casualties are feared to exceed 290. Remarkably, one passenger, a British national seated near an emergency exit, survived and is currently receiving critical care in a local hospital.
Immediate rescue efforts were monumental, involving more than seven fire trucks, over 40 ambulances, airport security forces, local police, and support from the Indian Army. Airport operations were suspended, and medical centers in the city rushed to receive wounded passengers and ground victims.
Technical and investigation overview
Flight data reveal the plane climbed to approximately 625 ft before abruptly losing signal. The pilots issued a mayday call but did not respond to further contact. CCTV shows the aircraft flying unusually low—at gear-down speed—before crashing into the medical college’s hostel block. While the weather was clear with no visibility issues, the Boeing 787’s flight recorders have been recovered and are under joint investigation by Indian authorities and international agencies.
Aircraft background and broader significance
Delivered to Air India in 2014 and powered by GE GEnx engines, VT‑ANB had maintained an unremarkable safety profile until today’s fatal incident—the first hull loss of any Boeing 787 since its debut in 2011. Air India’s parent, Tata Group, has activated family care units and pledged full assistance for victims’ families.
Official reaction and implications
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the event as devastating and promised a full inquiry. Leaders in the UK, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, King Charles III, and Pope Leo XIV, extended condolences. Boeing is assisting with the probe, and global financial markets noted a dip in the manufacturer’s stock amid heightened scrutiny.
In summary
With 242 onboard, one survivor, and over 290 deaths confirmed including ground victims, today’s crash is a national tragedy and a watershed moment for aviation safety. The crash demands urgent answers: Was there a critical technical failure? A lapse in operation? As investigations unfold, aviation authorities worldwide will be watching closely.
