•Scene of the plane crash
The Air India plane bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, with at least 242 people on board.
Here’s what we know so far:
One person is now thought to have survived today’s Air India plane crash, after officials earlier claimed there were “no survivors,” reports The Standard.
Flight AI171, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after departing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport after sending a mayday signal to air traffic control.
Videos emerging from the scene show a black plume of smoke rising into the sky near buildings, with reports later confirming the plane had crashed into a busy dining hall.
Confirming the news on social media, Air India wrote that their teams are now investigating further details about the crash.
“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 http://airindia.com and on our X handle,” the social media post read.
India’s aviation minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu has responded to the news, saying that his team were on “highest alert.”
“I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action,” he said.
“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.”
India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, said: “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected.”
What type of plane crashed?
Air India has confirmed that the plane that crashed is Flight AI171, which was traveling from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad to London Gatwick.
What caused the Air India plane crash?
According to India’s aviation regulator, the flight departed today at 1:39 p.m. local time and was meant to arrive in the UK in over nine hours.
Reports claim that it’s an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which can normally carry a total of 248 passengers.
How many people were on the Air India plane?
Air India has confirmed that a total of 242 passengers and crew were aboard the flight that crashed on June 12, 2025.
The flight carried 53 British nationals, 169 Indian nationals, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals.
A single passenger, 40-year-old British national, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, is thought to have survived the plane crash, but its believed that most others didn’t survive the impact.
People at the scene claimed that more than 100 badly charred bodies have been taken to a nearby hospital, and a number of people who were on the ground at the time of the crash may have been injured too.
The plane was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had 8,200 hours of flying experience, and co-pilot Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 hours of flying experience. There were also 10 crew members onboard.
A leaked passenger list allegedly detailing the names of those aboard, shared by an Indian news agency, suggests that a former politician and several children were among those onboard. The list could not be independently verified.
Where did the plane crash?
The plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, a city in western India, in the state of Gujarat.
It’s understood that the incident occurred in the Meghani Nagar area of the city, a residential area that’s just beyond the runway.
Reports reveal that the plane actually crashed into a dining room of a medical college, where many students were having lunch at the time of the incident.
“The building on which it has crashed is a doctors’ hostel… we have cleared almost 70% to 80% of the area and will clear the rest soon,” a police officer working at the scene told local reporters.
It’s understood that at least 35 bodies were recovered from the building, but it’s unclear whether these people were from the plane or from the dining room.
Why did the Air India plane crash?
It’s too early to tell at this point why the passenger plane crashed; however, aviation teams are thought to be investigating the incident.
India’s aviation regulator, DGCA, said in a statement that the aircraft issued a mayday call but then stopped responding and crashed immediately after takeoff.
Where is Ahmedabad?
Ahmedabad is the state capital of Gujarat, in the northwestern region of India.
It’s 500km north of Mumbai and is thought to be home to more than 7 million people.
