Air India Plane Crash: Vijay Rupani onboard London-bound Flight
Debris of Air India Flight crash in Ahmedabad! (Image X.com)
Ahmedabad Air India Plane Crash a First for Dreamliner Boening 787-8
By AMIT KUMAR
AHMEDABAD, June 12, 2025 – A catastrophic accident struck Ahmedabad today as Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers and 12 crew members, crashed shortly after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Former Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani was also reportedly on board the ill-fated flight.
The mishap makes the first case of a dreamliner plane crashing. A viral video showed the flight gradually losing height as it steadily descended to crash in a residential area.
The London-bound flight plunged into the Meghaninagar residential area. A massive emergency response has been launched. Thick plumes of black smoke billowed from the crash site.
According to Gujarat Samachar, the crash occurred in Ahmedabad’s Ghoda Camp, IGB Compound in Meghaninagar, with three fire brigade tenders rushing to the scene. “In a shocking accident, a suspected Air India passenger plane crashed in Ahmedabad’s Ghoda Camp, IGB Compound in Meghaninagar. As per reports, several people are injured in the incident,” the outlet reported, noting that at least 20 fatalities are feared.
ABP Asmita, a Gujarat-based channel, provided further details, stating, “The plane caught fire after crashing, and fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the blaze,” quoting fire officer Jayesh Khadia. Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik added, “A plane crashed in the Meghaninagar area near the airport. It is not yet clear what type of plane it was.” The outlet reported that the aircraft, which took off at 1:38 PM IST, crashed within five minutes, colliding with a periphery wall of the airport.
The flight, under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal with First Officer Clive Kunder, issued a Mayday call seconds before the crash, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). “As per ATC, the aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1339 IST (0809 UTC) from runway 23. It gave a MAYDAY Call to ATC, but thereafter no response was given by the aircraft,” ABP Asmita reported, citing DGCA sources.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu. The Minister in a post on X said that he is personally monitoring the situation.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed deep sorrow and ordered immediate rescue and relief operations. “I am deeply saddened by the incident of Air India passenger plane crash in Ahmedabad. I have instructed the officials to take immediate rescue and relief operations in the accident and to make arrangements for immediate treatment of the injured passengers on a war footing,” Patel stated, as quoted by Gujarat Samachar.
Commissioner Malik, according to ABP Asmita. Three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams from Gandhinagar and additional units from Vadodara have been deployed to the crash site.
Air India confirmed the incident, 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,” as reported by Gujarat Samachar.
Ambulances rushed the injured to nearby hospitals. A green corridor was established to rush victims to hospitals. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with the DGCA expected to probe technical and operational factors.
Ahmedabad airport has been shut down, and further details on casualties are awaited as rescue efforts continue.
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