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Air India Confirms
Air India confirms Flight AI171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner en route to London Gatwick, crashed near Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff with around 242 people onboard. Rescue and investigation underway.
Summary:
Breaking News: Air India Confirms AI171 Crash Near Ahmedabad
Air India Confirms: Air India has officially confirmed that Flight AI171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner operating between Ahmedabad and London Gatwick, was involved in a tragic accident today, 12 June 2025, shortly after takeoff. The airline shared its statement on X (formerly Twitter), Air India Confirms saying:
“Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad–London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates…” apnews.com+15theguardian.com+15tribune.com.pk+15
Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025 – In a devastating development, Air India confirms that its international Flight AI171, operating on the Ahmedabad–London Gatwick route, crashed shortly after takeoff this afternoon. The aircraft was carrying 242 people, including 12 crew members, when it went down near Meghani Nagar, a residential locality close to the Ahmedabad Airport.
Air India released a statement via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, stating, “Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad–London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest on airindia.com and on our X handle.”
According to preliminary reports from the State Police Control Room, the aircraft—a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (registration VT-ANB)—lost radar contact just five minutes after its 1:38 PM takeoff, with the final signal detected at 08:08:51 UTC. Witnesses in the area reported a loud explosion followed by smoke billowing from a residential zone where the aircraft reportedly crashed.
Initial visuals from the crash site in Meghani Nagar showed emergency response teams battling flames and clearing wreckage. Unconfirmed reports also mention that former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani was among the passengers. However, no official confirmation has been issued on individual identities.
According to sources, the flight was commanded by Pilot-in-Command Sumit Sabharwal and Co-Pilot Clive Kunder. Aviation analysts suspect a potential loss of lift or engine malfunction as probable causes, though the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) have launched full-scale investigations.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed the crash and stated that updates would be provided as the situation develops. As news of the crash broke, prayers and condolences began pouring in from political leaders, celebrities, and citizens across the nation.
Reports remain conflicted about the exact number of passengers onboard, with initial counts varying between 133 and 243. However, Air India confirms that 242 individuals were on the manifest. The variance is attributed to differing real-time reports before the airline’s formal statement.
In a press interaction, aviation safety expert Captain Arvind Mehra said, “This is one of the gravest aviation disasters in recent Indian history. The loss of contact so soon after takeoff is extremely concerning and hints at a critical technical or operational failure.”
As rescue and relief operations continue, the crash has once again sparked discussions about India’s aviation safety protocols, emergency preparedness, and maintenance standards for aging aircraft.
Citizens have gathered in large numbers near hospitals and control centres, seeking information about their loved ones. Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to manage the crisis.
With multiple versions of the crash circulating online, the airline has urged the public to rely only on updates from official sources. “Please refrain from spreading misinformation. We are focused on managing the crisis and ensuring timely updates,” said an Air India spokesperson.
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