Air India plane crash: London-bound flight with 242 onboard crashes near Ahmedabad; Cop says ‘204 bodies recovered’

Air India Plane Crash: In a tragic incident on June 12, Thursday,  Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed into a residential area in Meghani Nagar, Ahmedabad, just five minutes after taking off at 1:38 PM, confirmed by the DGCA. The flight was en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. The Government of India has confirmed multiple fatalities but has not yet specified the exact number, stating, “Lost lot of people, rescue operations are on.” 

Police in Ahmedabad said no survivors were expected, warning of more deaths where the jet smashed down.

"There appears to be no survivor in the crash," city police commissioner GS Malik told AFP. "And since the airplane has fallen on an area which was residential and had some offices, there are more casualties as well". 

“We have retrieved 204 bodies and 41 injured persons taken to hospital”, said Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik.

Emergency teams rushed to the site amid thick smoke and fire, with rescue and medical efforts underway to assist survivors and manage the crisis.

Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu has rushed to Ahmedabad, following the news of the Air India plane crash.

Ahmedabad Airport Suspended Operations

Ahmedabad airport operations have been suspended due to a plane crash involving an Air India aircraft, which occurred on June 12, 2025, shortly after takeoff.

“As a result of Air India plane crash incident, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA), Ahmedabad, is currently not operational. All flight operations are temporarily suspended until further notice”, said SVPIA Spokesperson

Air India Plane Crash: Details

The Air India flight was piloted by Captain Sumit Sabharwal and co-piloted by Clive Kunder. On board were 232 passengers, including 230 adults and 2 infants, along with 12 crew members, totaling 242 people, DGCA said.

According to India Today, the Air India Ahmedabad-Gatwick flight had given mayday call to ATC, crashed outside airport perimeter after take-off.

The Air India plane caught fire after crashing and fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the blaze, said Fire officer Jayesh Khadia.

The airport emergency team was immediately activated, and smoke was visible from a considerable distance. The DAW, ADAW, and one FOI, who were already in Ahmedabad for another assignment, are now gathering details about the incident.

Several injured were taken to City Civil Hospital, according to PTI.

LIVE Updates on Air India Plane Crash

Smoke was seen emanating from the airport premises following the incident, which has been confirmed by the State Police Control Room.

Air India tweeted about the air plane crash and said, “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 (https://x.com/airindia).”

The Air India airplane reportedly crashed during take-off, says India Today.

The Air India Boeing 787 was headed for Gatwick Airport.

Gatwick Airport is located near Crawley in West Sussex, approximately 29.5 miles (47.5 km) south of Central London, England.

Narendra Modi personally spoke with the Minister of Civil Aviation, Rammohan Naidu, to review the Air India flight crash incident in Ahmedabad. 

The Minister informed the Prime Minister that he is rushing to Ahmedabad to oversee rescue and relief operations, and the Prime Minister directed him to ensure all necessary support is provided immediately while requesting regular updates on the situation. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state Home Minister, and the Police Commissioner regarding the Ahmedabad plane crash incident on Thursday. He also assured that the Central government will provide all necessary assistance.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu expressed his shock and devastation upon learning about the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. He stated that the situation is being closely monitored, with the highest level of alert in place. He has instructed all aviation and emergency response agencies to act swiftly and in coordination.

Rescue teams have been deployed to the crash site, and every effort is underway to provide medical aid and relief support promptly. The minister extended his thoughts and prayers to those on board and their families during this difficult time

(This is a developing story. It will be updated as we have more details)