The back of Air India flight 171 is pictured at the site after it crashed in a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. A London-bound passenger plane crashed in the Indian city of Ahmedabad on June 12 and all 242 people on board were believed killed, with the jet smashing into buildings housing doctors and their families. (Photo by Sam PANTHAKY / AFP)
Tragedy in Ahmedabad: One Survivor After Air India Plane Crash Kills 241
A devastating air disaster struck India on Thursday, June 12, when Air India Flight 171, en route to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people onboard. The lone survivor has been hospitalized, officials confirmed.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plunged into a densely populated residential area near the airport around midday, smashing into buildings where doctors and their families resided, and igniting fires that engulfed homes and a student canteen.
“It’s heartbreaking beyond words,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reacting to what is one of India’s worst aviation tragedies in recent years. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident “devastating,” and King Charles III said he was “desperately shocked.”
🔥 Scene of Devastation
An AFP correspondent at the crash site described bodies being recovered from scorched buildings, thick black smoke rising, and the rear fuselage of the aircraft dangling over the edge of a destroyed apartment block.
A doctor named Krishna, who lived in the building struck by the aircraft, said, “The nose and front wheel crashed into the canteen where students were eating lunch. We saw 15 to 20 burnt bodies and rescued some students.”
📋 Casualties and Nationalities
India’s civil aviation authorities confirmed that 169 Indians, 53 Britons, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian were aboard, including 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew.
Police Commissioner GS Malik reported 204 bodies recovered so far, including passengers and residents. Dozens of people on the ground sustained serious injuries and are being treated in city hospitals.
🛑 Emergency Response
Rescue efforts continue, with Indian authorities shutting down Ahmedabad’s airport. All incoming and outgoing flights are suspended until further notice.
The US National Transportation Safety Board and UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch are sending experts to assist India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation in the crash investigation. A mayday call was reportedly issued moments before the aircraft went down.
A bird strike leading to a rare double engine failure is suspected by experts, though investigations are ongoing.
🤝 Support for Families
Air India’s parent company, Tata Group, has pledged ₹10 million ($117,000) in compensation to each victim’s family and will cover medical expenses for survivors. A crisis support center has also been established for affected families.
This marks the first crash involving a 787 Dreamliner, and it echoes past air disasters in India, including the 2010 Mangalore crash that killed 158 people.
