June 12 2025

Deadly Air India Crash: 100+ Dead, 242 Onboard

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Over 100 dead in tragic Air India crash near Ahmedabad

A Routine Flight Turns Into Tragedy

An Air India plane, which was going to London with 242 people, crashed a few minutes after take-off from Ahmedabad on Thursday. Authorities said that more than 100 people have died – this has become a bad accident in India’s aviation history.

Crash Site: Residential Area Devastated

The plane crashed into a residential area near the airport, specifically on a doctors’ hostel, according to police reports.

Over 100 charred bodies were taken to the local government hospital for post-mortem.
A senior police officer stated:

“The plane has crashed on top of a doctors’ hostel… We have cleared 70–80% of the area, the rest will be cleared soon.”

Debris and plane parts were scattered around the building. Some visuals showed the tail section stuck to the structure- reported the aircraft struck the dining area of B.J. Medical College, killing several medical students.

Passenger Details Released

The ill-fated aircraft carried:

217 adults
11 children
2 infants

Nationality-wise, the breakdown was:

169 Indians
53 British
7 Portuguese
1 Canadian

Aircraft Information: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner

According to Flightradar24, the crashed plane was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a modern, wide-body aircraft in service since 2011. This particular aircraft was:

Built in 2013
Delivered to Air India in 2014

Air India stated on X (formerly Twitter):

“We are currently collecting details and the injured people are being sent to nearby hospitals.”

Crash Timeline: What We Know So Far

The plane took off from runway 23 at 1:39 p.m. (0809 GMT) and soon after, issued an emergency “Mayday” call — but received no response.

TV channels showed visuals of the aircraft flying low over homes before vanishing and a fireball engulfing the sky. After the air india crash, black smoke and scorched debris were visible, with ambulances rushing to help survivors.

Voices from the Ground: Survivors & Families Speak

Poonam Patel, a relative of a passenger, told ANI:

“My sister-in-law was going to London. Within an hour, we got the news of the crash.”

Ramila, whose son studies at the affected medical college, said:

“My son had gone to the hostel for lunch. He jumped from the second floor to escape and got injured. But he’s safe.”

Investigation Begins: Early Clues & Reactions

Technical Observations

U.S. aerospace expert Anthony Brickhouse noted the landing gear was down, which is unusual during take-off.

“It looked like the plane was landing,” he said.

Boeing acknowledged the incident and is currently gathering data. Its shares dropped 6.8% after the news broke.

GE Aerospace announced that a team will arrive in India to analyze cockpit data.

International Coordination

The UK Foreign Office is assisting with information and support.
Indian authorities have begun a full-scale investigation.

National Mourning and Official Responses

Indian Leaders React

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X:

“The tragedy in Ahmedabad has shaken us. This is a heartbreaking accident.”

He has directed the aviation ministry to provide full support in rescue and relief operations.

Global Leaders Respond

UK PM Keir Starmer called the visuals “devastating.”
King Charles is being continuously briefed.
Adani Group, which operates the airport, expressed grief and offered support.

Gautam Adani, Adani Group Chairman, wrote:

“We are in deep shock by the tragedy of Air India Flight 171.”

Airport Status: Now Operational with Restrictions

The Ahmedabad airport was briefly closed but has since resumed operations with limited flights.

A Look Back: Previous Major Air India Crash

The last major Air India crash happened in 2020, when an Air India Express plane crashed in Kozhikode, killing 21 people after overshooting the runway.

Air India Ownership & Future Plans

Air India, previously state-owned, was acquired by the Tata Group in 2022. A merger with Singapore Airlines is expected to be completed in 2024, expanding its international operations.

Final Thoughts

This incident has brought to light serious concerns around aviation safety and emergency response. As investigations continue, the focus remains on the victims, survivors, and their families, whose lives have been irreversibly changed.