AHMEDABAD- An Air India (AI) Boeing 787 Dreamliner operating flight AI 171 en route to London (LGW) crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) in Ahmedabad on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
The aircraft plunged into the Meghani area, close to the airport, prompting a major emergency response. The crash sent plumes of thick black smoke into the sky, visible across the city.
Photo: Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh TekriwalAir India 787 Plane Crashes Near Ahmedabad
The ill-fated wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operated by Air India (AI), was carrying around 250 people, including crew, and was fully fueled for the long-haul route to London Gatwick Airport (LGW).
The incident occurred moments after departure from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD), raising concerns about a possible technical malfunction during the initial climb.
Initial reports suggest that the aircraft crashed in the Meghani area—a densely populated neighborhood near the airport. Witnesses described a loud explosion followed by intense fire and smoke.
Residents rushed to the site to assist rescue personnel before emergency services could fully secure the area.
VIDEO | Ahmedabad: Smoke seen emanating from airport premises. More details are awaited.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7)
(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/qbO486KoEo
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 12, 2025
Multiple fire engines, ambulances, and police units were deployed to the crash site within minutes. Given the aircraft’s full fuel load, the explosion led to a massive fire that hindered rescue operations. Some injured individuals have been transported to nearby hospitals, although casualty figures remain unconfirmed at this time.
Authorities from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have begun coordinating with local emergency teams and are expected to initiate a formal investigation. A technical team from Boeing is also likely to join the probe to assess potential mechanical or operational failures.
Air India, in its official statement, said:
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 its website and on our X handle.
Air India Official Statement
The Minister of Civil Aviation of India, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, has stated X:
Shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad. We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action. Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site. My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families.
Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu
Photo: Mumbai Planes | Siddh DhuriEyewitness Accounts and Official Statements
Ahmedabad police commissioner GS Malik confirmed the crash, stating, “A plane crashed in the Meghaninagar area near the airport. It is not yet clear what type of plane it was.” Later confirmation identified the aircraft as a Boeing 787 operated by Air India (AI).
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the aircraft struggling during ascent before veering sharply and descending rapidly. The site of impact was heavily damaged, and preliminary visuals indicate multiple residential structures were affected.
As of now, officials have not released any preliminary findings on the cause of the crash. Aviation analysts note that the aircraft’s high fuel load could have intensified the fire, complicating rescue and damage control efforts.
The DGCA will likely examine flight data recorders, maintenance logs, and air traffic control communication as part of the inquiry.
Photo: By Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland – Air India Express Boeing 737-800; VT-AXI@SIN;07.08.2011/617bz, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26713692Similar Incident
Pilot misjudgment and procedural violations have been identified as key causes of the Air India Express (IX) crash that occurred at Calicut International Airport (CCJ) in August 2020. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India has released its final report detailing critical human and systemic failures that led to the fatal accident.
The Dubai (DXB) to Calicut (CCJ) repatriation flight, carrying 190 passengers and crew, skidded off the runway during heavy rain, resulting in 21 fatalities, including both pilots, and 75 serious injuries.
Investigators Cite Multiple Safety Breaches
The AAIB’s 257-page final report concludes that the Boeing 737 aircraft operated by Air India Express (IX) crashed due to pilot error and violation of key safety protocols.
The aircraft was attempting to land for a second time in extremely poor weather conditions when it overshot the tabletop runway, breaking into two after plunging into a gorge.
Investigators cited that the captain failed to perform an “adequate briefing” for a landing involving tailwinds and reduced visibility. The pilots also did not promptly calculate accurate landing data for the adverse monsoon weather. Furthermore, a defective windshield wiper significantly impaired the pilot’s visibility during the approach.
One of the most critical procedural failures noted was the absence of the mandatory announcement instructing the cabin crew to be seated during the first landing attempt. The report stressed that this omission severely compromised in-flight safety operations.
Systemic and Cultural Failures
Beyond individual mistakes, the report pointed to deeper, systemic issues within Air India Express’s operational framework. It highlighted the existence of a poor safety culture that allowed routine violations and insufficient risk assessments to go unchecked. These systemic failures, the AAIB noted, may have indirectly contributed to the crash by normalizing procedural shortcuts.
The report emphasized that such oversights reflect broader problems within organizational decision-making, training, and safety enforcement mechanisms, all of which failed to prevent a preventable disaster.
Weather Conditions and History of Monsoon-Related Incidents
The incident occurred during India’s intense monsoon season, which often creates hazardous flying conditions across South Asia from June to September. The aircraft had already aborted one landing due to heavy rain, before attempting a second in similar conditions.
Calicut airport’s tabletop runway—surrounded by deep gorges at both ends—presents added risks during inclement weather. In 2010, a similar overshoot at Mangalore Airport (IXE), also involving Air India Express, led to 158 deaths, making it one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Indian history.
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