An Air India aircraft en route from Ahmedabad to London crashed on BJ Medical College’s Hostel near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in the Meghaninagar area on Thursday (June 12) afternoon. The Boeing 787-800 Dreamliner, operating as flight AI171, reportedly caught fire moments after takeoff, prompting a swift emergency response. A massive plume of black smoke rose from the crash site, visible across the area.
As many as 50 MBBS students injured while the relief and rescue operations are ongoing, with emergency services working round the clock to manage the aftermath of the crash and provide aid to survivors.
According to authorities, the plane had 242 passengers on board and crashed near the airport’s boundary wall shortly after takeoff. The last recorded altitude was 625 feet with a climbing rate of 896 feet per minute, and a speed of 174 knots. The aircraft had issued a MAYDAY call to air traffic control (ATC), but no further communication was received before it crashed within airport limits.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the pilot-in-command, Capt. Sumeet Sabharwal, had over 8,200 hours of flying experience, while the co-pilot had completed 1,100 hours. The DGCA added that the aircraft departed at 1:39 PM IST (0809 UTC) from runway 23.
Following the crash, the Gujarat airspace has been temporarily closed. Firefighters rushed to the scene to contain the blaze, while rescue teams began evacuation efforts. Three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, comprising 90 personnel, were deployed from Gandhinagar, with three additional teams on the way from Vadodara.
Air India acknowledged the incident in a statement, saying, “Flight AI171 operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. We are gathering more information and will provide updates on airindia.com and our official social media channels.”
Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu is en route to Ahmedabad from Vijayawada to oversee the situation. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and directed officials to expedite rescue and relief operations. He has ordered the creation of a green corridor to transport the injured to hospitals and instructed healthcare facilities to prioritize treatment.
