Air India Flight AI 171 Crashes After Take-Off from Ahmedabad, All 242 Onboard Killed

In a tragic and deadly accident, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed just after taking off from Ahmedabad airport this afternoon. The aircraft, which was flying to London’s Gatwick Airport, was carrying 242 people, including 232 passengers and 10 crew members. Sadly, no one survived, officials confirmed.

Shortly after take-off, the plane struggled to gain altitude. Within moments, it crashed into a hostel building meant for doctors at a nearby medical college. This unfortunate incident also killed five students who were inside the hostel at the time. Eyewitness videos show the wreckage breaking through the wall of the dining area — shockingly, food was still on some of the plates, showing how sudden the crash was.

The Final Moments Before the Crash

The flight, numbered AI 171, was headed to London and took off with full fuel for the long journey. Around 1:38 PM, the aircraft could be seen flying unusually low. In videos captured by bystanders, the plane failed to climb properly and then slammed into the ground, leading to a huge explosion and fireball.

• Pilot sent a mayday call just moments after take-off.
• No response came from the plane after that, according to air traffic control.
• The crash happened at just 825 feet altitude, which is extremely low.

Aviation expert Sanjay Lazar stated that the plane experienced a catastrophic failure to lift, which made it impossible for the aircraft to stay airborne.

Who Were on Board?

Among the 242 people on the flight:

• 169 were Indian citizens
• 53 were British nationals
• 7 were Portuguese nationals
• 1 was a Canadian citizen

The plane was being flown by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had over 8,200 hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had completed 1,100 flying hours.

Emergency Response and Investigation

After the crash:

• Emergency services rushed to the scene with over 24 ambulances.
• Injured people, believed to be from the hostel building, were quickly taken to nearby hospitals.
• Traffic around the area was blocked by the police to allow rescue operations.

Visuals from the site showed the burnt remains of the aircraft, thick black smoke, and rescue workers trying to manage the scene.

India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, said he is personally monitoring the situation and has ordered all emergency and aviation teams to act quickly and in coordination.

“My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families,” the minister posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also confirmed the crash and said an investigation is now underway.

Air India’s Response

Air India has launched a dedicated helpline number – 1800 5691 444 – for families of the passengers and the general public to get updates and information.