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Wafric News – June 12, 2025

Ahmedabad, India - A catastrophic air crash in western India has left the world in mourning, after a London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. Authorities say there are no known survivors, with 204 bodies recovered so far from the wreckage and the surrounding residential area.

The Crash: A Timeline

Air India Flight 171 departed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad—India’s Gujarat state capital—at approximately 1:40 p.m. local time (0810 GMT), bound for London Gatwick. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, issued a mayday call just moments after takeoff before losing altitude and crashing into a densely populated neighborhood.

Eyewitness videos shared online—still awaiting official verification—show the plane appearing to struggle for altitude, nose tilted upward, before plunging and erupting in a massive fireball as it collided with a residential building.

Passengers and Crew

Air India confirmed the passenger list included:

  • 169 Indian nationals

  • 53 Britons

  • 7 Portuguese citizens

  • 1 Canadian national

Also onboard were 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew members. Officials fear all lives onboard have been lost.

A Scene of Devastation

The aircraft reportedly crashed into a multi-storey building housing medical professionals and their families. Residents described a chaotic, terrifying scene as people leapt from upper floors to escape the flames.

“We saw people from the building jumping from the second and third floor to save themselves,” said one resident.
“When we reached the spot, there were several bodies lying around and firefighters were dousing the flames,” added another witness, Poonam Patni.

Images from the site show blackened debris, emergency workers retrieving charred remains, and family members in anguish.

Firefighters work at the site where Air India flight 171 crashed in a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025.

smouldering on the roof.
Image source, AP
Image source, AP
Response and Investigation

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is leading the investigation, supported by emergency services and the military. Authorities have sealed off the crash zone and suspended all operations at Ahmedabad’s airport until further notice.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that all available emergency and aviation resources have been deployed to coordinate rescue and recovery operations.

Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran announced the activation of an emergency centre and a dedicated support line for families seeking updates and assistance.

Boeing Responds

Boeing, the U.S. aerospace giant that manufactures the Dreamliner, issued a statement saying it was "working to gather more information" and was cooperating with Indian authorities and Air India.

A source familiar with the aircraft type confirmed this to be the first-ever crash involving a 787 Dreamliner, a model known for its long-range efficiency and high passenger capacity. The Dreamliner is one of Boeing’s flagship jets, typically seating between 242 and 330 passengers.
Aviation in Focus

This disaster comes amid renewed interest in India’s aviation expansion. Just last year, Air India placed a historic order for 470 aircraft—including 250 from Airbus and 220 from Boeing—as part of efforts to revamp its fleet and meet rising demand for international air travel.

This crash is likely to cast a shadow over the country’s growing aviation sector and raise fresh concerns about aircraft safety and air traffic infrastructure in high-density urban areas.

WafricNews will continue to provide verified updates on this developing story, as authorities piece together the events that led to one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s recent history.


By WafricNews Desk.

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