An unexpected and devastating tragedy happened last afternoon on June 12, 2025. An Air India flight bound for London crashed within 5 minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad. This shook the entire state and the whole world. The crash killed at least 241 people from all over the world. The flight took off from the airport and crashed in the densely populated Meghani area, and has become one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent Indian history.
The Crash: What Happened?
With 242 passengers, the disastrous Air India flight AI171, which was travelling a long way from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, took off at 1:38 PM. This had ten cabin staff members, two pilots, and 230 passengers. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar were in charge of the aircraft, which was heavily fueled for the international flight. The explosion and flames that followed the collision are thought to have been caused by this high fuel load.
The crash was described by the eyewitnesses as a terrifying moment that one can ever see. They exclaimed that the flight was flying much lower than the usual distance, and within the blink of an eye, it crashed into the mess building of the BJ Medical College in the Meghaninagar area. A dark plume of smoke can be seen for kilometres, imagine the level of the crash. Since the aircraft was fueled full to fly a long distance to London, it immediately caught fire and burned all the passengers, on-boarding staff and pilots. Who is responsible for the tragic loss of those who didn’t even know if it would be their last flight?
Immediate Response and Rescue Efforts
The response was very immediate as multiple fire engines, ambulances, and city police rushed to the place for the rescue operation. The foremost concern was to control the spread of fire, search for survivors, and evacuate the injured. The whole area was very devastated with debris from the aircraft, and the building was totally demolished.
A senior police officer reported that 70-80% area was rectified and cleared quickly. The disaster was very huge, so it is a time-consuming process and extremely challenging. The most complicated thing about the incident is the fire that caused the most loss.
Casualties and Survivors
The incident took away the lives of 241 people, including passengers, crew, and some of the residents of the doctor’s quarters. One survivor was discovered by the police in seat 11A, named Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, and he is presently receiving medical attention there. The former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani, was also one of the passengers in the plane and lost his life.
The passengers included seven Portuguese nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian, and 169 Indians. At the airport and hospitals, relatives and friends of those on board have gathered, eager to hear about their loved ones. This is the most heartbreaking and emotional moment in recent years.
Eyewitnesses and On-Ground Report
Eyewitnesses recounted the terror and confusion in the moments after the crash. The people a few meters away claimed that they heard a loud sound of a crash and immediately went out to see the situation, and what they saw was very horrifying. The video that is getting viral was recorded by a resident, as they found it very unusual how a plane could fly this low.
Nirman Dhabi, a resident of Ahmedabad, was seen searching for his brother-in-law, who was on the flight, but his call remained unanswered, and he found him dead. Many others are waiting for the news about friends and family members.
Air India is Held Responsible
People are holding Air India responsible for the loss of people, as their aircraft are mostly having some or other issues. Air India’s flight has some technical issues for many years. The same incident happened on 2nd May 2025, when their flight was delayed for 5 hours due to an engine fault and the same on 13th December 2024, the flight was rescheduled by 1 day due to a technical glitch.
Air India didn’t acknowledge this case and still let their same aircraft fly without any hassle. This is so unprofessional, and such negligence has led to the tragic loss of so many people.
How Air India Responded
Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran issued a statement expressing profound sorrow and extending condolences to the families of those affected. The airline is working closely with emergency response teams and providing all necessary support to victims and their families
Official Reactions and Support
There are so many officials, including the Prime Minister and the President of India have shared their grief. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was shattered by the news and expressed his emotions, calling the incident “heartbreaking beyond words”, and is providing the best help to ease the situation. President Droupadi Murmu also conveyed her condolences, saying, “It is a heart-rending disaster. My thoughts and prayers are with the affected people. The nation stands with them in this hour of indescribable grief”.
Tata Group has come as the supporting miracle, as they announced that they will provide Rs. 1 crore to the families of each person lost in the tragic incident, and they further exclaimed that they will provide funds for the reestablishment of the medical college and its hostel that were destroyed in the accident.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel have been in close communication with local authorities, analysing the situation and relief efforts right away. The central government is dedicated to providing the best help for recovering all the losses.
Investigation Continues
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is continuously monitoring the situation, and it has announced a formal investigation into the crash case. For further help, the technical team from the aircraft maker Boeing is also expected. The reason behind the crash is attributed to the high fuel that was loaded for the long International journey.
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