Air India Flight AI171 Crashes Shortly After Take-Off in Ahmedabad

An Air India aircraft bound for London’s Gatwick Airport crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon, with 242 individuals on board. The incident occurred near the Meghaninagar area, not far from the city’s airport.

Dramatic visuals from the scene showed thick plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky, indicating the severity of the crash. Eyewitnesses described the smoke as visible from several kilometres away.

In an official statement, Air India confirmed the incident involving flight AI171. “Flight AI171, operating on the Ahmedabad-London Gatwick route, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025,” the airline stated. “We are currently establishing the facts and will provide further updates on our website and our X (formerly Twitter) handle.”

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has begun investigating the crash. Director General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai confirmed that the aircraft took off at 1:38 PM and tragically went down within just five minutes of departure.

On board the aircraft were 242 people, including 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew members. The flight was commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with First Officer Clive Kundar serving as co-pilot.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, as well as the state’s Home Minister and the local police commissioner. He assured them of full support and assistance from the Central Government.

As a result of the crash, operations at Ahmedabad airport have been temporarily suspended. Authorities are urging travellers to check with airlines before heading to the airport.

This is a developing story, and further details are expected in due course.​