A devastating aviation tragedy unfolded in Ahmedabad, western India, on Thursday, when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff en route to London’s Gatwick Airport. The aircraft, operating as flight AI171, was carrying a total of 242 people, including passengers and crew. Authorities reported that there were no known survivors, and the crash likely claimed additional lives on the ground as the plane plowed into a densely populated area with residential buildings and offices.
In an official statement shared on social media, Air India confirmed the incident, stating the flight took off at 1:38 p.m. local time. The airline disclosed the nationalities of those on board: 169 were Indian nationals, 53 British, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese. The airline also mentioned that injured individuals were being transported to nearby hospitals, although the extent and number of those injuries remain unclear.
Gatwick Airport, the intended destination of the flight, also acknowledged the crash, noting the flight had been scheduled to arrive at 6:25 p.m. UK time. Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik told the Associated Press that it appears there are no survivors from the aircraft. He also expressed concern about casualties among residents on the ground, as the plane had come down in a mixed-use neighborhood.
Video footage circulated by NDTV, though unverified, appears to show the plane flying at a low altitude over city buildings before disappearing from view, followed by a powerful explosion. Reports suggest the aircraft may have collided with a building housing medical students.
Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, who leads India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, told the Associated Press that the crash occurred just five minutes after departure. Flight tracking service Flight Radar confirmed that the aircraft’s final signal was received only seconds after takeoff. Data from the site indicated that the jet climbed to about 625 feet before beginning a rapid descent.
Boeing issued a statement expressing condolences and confirmed that they are in contact with Air India and ready to provide support. The company noted that this is the first recorded crash of a 787 Dreamliner, based on their April 2025 incident report.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced that a team of American investigators will travel to India to assist in the probe, working alongside India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. The NTSB emphasized that, according to international aviation guidelines, India will lead the investigation, with support from U.S. agencies as requested. The Federal Aviation Administration also affirmed its readiness to offer technical assistance.
In response to the catastrophe, Indian Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said emergency response agencies have been fully activated and are working on rescue and relief efforts. He expressed his sorrow over the incident and vowed continued oversight.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a heartfelt message, calling the crash “heartbreaking beyond words” and expressing solidarity with the victims’ families. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed this sentiment, describing the situation as “devastating,” particularly given the number of British nationals aboard the ill-fated flight.
