Ahmedabad plane crash involving Air India Flight 171:

🛫 What happened

On June 12, 2025, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner (VT‑ANB) operating as Flight AI 171 crashed just minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, bound for London Gatwick .

The aircraft reached around 625 ft before losing altitude, issuing a mayday, and crashing into a residential area and B.J. Medical College hostel .

Casualties & survivors

242 people were on board: 230 passengers and 12 crew members.

As of now, 204 bodies have been confirmed recovered, with 41 individuals injured .

Unfortunately, there were fatalities on the ground too—at least five medical students lost their lives .

Authorities also confirmed the crash marks the first-ever fatal accident in the Boeing 787's history .

Emergency response and impact

Immediate deployment of rescue teams, ambulances, and firefighting units followed the crash .

The airport suspended operations temporarily after the incident .

Top officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, expressed sorrow and pledged support .

Investigation & next steps

India’s AAIB and DGCA, with assistance from the UK’s AAIB, have launched a full investigation .

The preliminary data indicates the aircraft failed to retract landing gear and didn’t climb as expected, despite clear weather .

Possible factors under probe include engine performance or technical/configuration issues .

What it means

Grim milestone: this is the first hull loss and fatal crash for the 787 Dreamliner, a model heralded for safety .

Despite aviation being statistically safer than decades ago, recent incidents like this highlight the enduring risk in air travel .

Investigators aim to uncover root causes to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Summary

Detail Info

Flight AI 171, Boeing 787‑8 Route Ahmedabad → London Gatwick Onboard 242 (230 passengers, 12 crew) Fatalities 204+ onboard, 5 on ground Injured 41+ Survivors Very few Aircraft First-ever fatal accident for Boeing 787 Status Incident under investigation by AAIB, DGCA, UK AAIB