Gujarat’s Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon witnessed one of the catastrophic aviation disasters when Air India’s London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (AI171) crashed near a densely populated locality just 33 seconds after takeoff, killing at least 260 people.
The plane crash, India’s deadliest in three decades, occurred barely 3km from the city’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, rammed into a doctors’ hostel of BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area, turning the structure into a charred wreck. Among the victims was former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani.
Air India has confirmed that its flight AI-171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on June 12, 2025, was involved in a tragic accident. The aircraft, a 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, departed from Ahmedabad at 1:38 PM. On board were 230 passengers and 12 crew members, totaling 242 people.
The passengers comprised 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian national. Air India reported that out of the 242 individuals aboard, 241 fatalities have been confirmed. The sole survivor is a British national of Indian origin, who is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Meanwhile, at least five MBBS students, one PG resident doctor and the wife of a super-specialist doctor of the BJ Medical college were killed and 60 medical students injured in Ahmedabad as the plane crashed into the college complex
In the aftermath of the tragic Air India plane crash, Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu announced that the government will constitute a high-level committee aimed at strengthening aviation safety protocols across the country. Naidu emphasised the urgency of enhancing safety mechanisms and preventive measures to ensure such incidents are not repeated.
“The loss of lives is deeply saddening. We are fully committed to improving aviation safety standards. A high-level committee will be set up to examine current systems and recommend improvements,” he stated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Ahmedabad crash site where Air India’s London-bound plane crashed. According to the information, the PM will visit the site on Friday morning. PM Modi has been closely monitoring the situation since the incident occurred and is receiving regular updates. During his visit, PM Modi is scheduled to assess the situation at the crash site and may also meet with the injured who are being treated in hospitals.
Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and Air India, announced on Thursday that the Tata Group will provide Rs 1 crore to the families of each person who has lost their life in this tragedy. The statement also read that the Tata group of companies will provide support in constructing the BJ Medical’s hostel.