Ahmedabad Civil Hospital officials stated unequivocally that all those on board perished, with the bodies so badly burned that identification will depend on DNA and dental analysis.
Navin Upadhyay
A devastating tragedy has struck Ahmedabad, as authorities confirm there are no survivors in the catastrophic crash of Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that plummeted into the Meghaninagar residential area at 1:38 PM IST on Thursday, June 12, 2025. The London-bound flight, carrying 242 passengers and crew, struck an airport perimeter wall shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, crashing near Forensic Cross Road and IGB Ground in Shahibaug. The intense fire that followed has left all bodies charred beyond recognition, deepening the sorrow of one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters and marking the first fatal crash of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
The aircraft, piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar, issued a brief MAYDAY call before losing contact with Air Traffic Control, crashing minutes after departing runway 23. The impact, compounded by the plane’s heavy fuel load for its transcontinental journey, triggered a massive fireball that engulfed the wreckage in Meghaninagar’s Ghoda Camp and IGB Compound. Rescue teams, including three
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) units, seven fire brigades, and police, have been battling the blaze for hours, but the extreme heat and toxic smoke have made recovery efforts harrowing. Authorities at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital confirmed that all 242 individuals onboard perished, with bodies so severely charred that identification is proving nearly impossible, requiring DNA analysis and dental records.
Tragic
AI Ahmbd -London crashes
London bound AI 171 Boeing 787*plane crashed into under construction buil
*ahmedabad airport air india plane crash* ahmedabad civil hospital on high alertAs per local police more than 200ppl feared on board.
Plan crashes soon after take off… pic.twitter.com/O839kEHeR4— Anand Narasimhan🇮🇳 (@AnchorAnandN) June 12, 2025
Among the passengers was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, whose family confirmed his presence on the flight, adding a profound layer of grief to the tragedy. The absence of survivors has left families, gathered at the airport and hospitals, in anguish, with no hope of reuniting with loved ones. Aviation expert Captain Saurabh Bhatnagar, speaking to a television channel, speculated that a bird strike may have caused the disaster. “This could happen due to bird hit,” he said, noting that “one multiple bird hit could have caused the disaster because the flight could not climb up second after take off.” The theory, while unconfirmed, suggests a catastrophic failure that prevented the aircraft from gaining altitude, leading to the collision with the perimeter wall.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, on-site since 2:45 PM IST, addressed the media at Ahmedabad
Civil Hospital, calling the crash a “heartbreaking national tragedy” and vowing support for the bereaved. “The loss of all 242 lives is unimaginable,” he said, announcing that identification efforts would be prioritized. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, coordinating with responders, expressed his condolences, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X: “The complete loss of life in the Ahmedabad crash is devastating beyond words. My heart is with the families, and our government will provide every possible assistance.” Air India activated a toll-free helpline (1800-XXX-XXXX) at 2:30 PM IST, urging families to rely on official updates as they navigate this unprecedented loss.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has recovered the flight’s black boxes and is analyzing them in Delhi to determine the cause. The bird strike theory is under investigation, alongside possibilities of a tail strike or mechanical failure. A six-member DGCA team, led by Joint Director General G.S. Bedi, is working with Air India, Boeing, and the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch, given the flight’s international destination. The aircraft, registered as VT-ANW and in service since 2014, had no reported maintenance issues, but its records are being scrutinized. Boeing issued a statement: “We are heartbroken by the loss of all onboard Flight AI171 and are fully cooperating with the investigation.”
The crash has ravaged Meghaninagar, damaging homes and infrastructure. Dozens of residents have been evacuated, with temporary shelters set up in schools and community centers. The Gujarat government announced ex gratia payments of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased, with further relief measures to be detailed tomorrow. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport remains closed, with flights diverted to Vadodara, Surat, and Mumbai, and roads to the airport are sealed, causing significant traffic disruptions.
On X, hashtags like #AhmedabadCrash and #AirIndiaTragedy trend as the nation mourns, with videos of the smoldering wreckage and tributes to the 242 victims flooding timelines. Public figures, including West Bengal
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC MP Yusuf Pathan, have offered condolences, while Ahmedabad Police have urged the public to avoid spreading unverified claims, particularly about survivor rumors now dispelled.
The tragedy, the first fatal crash of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, has sparked urgent questions about aviation safety, particularly bird strike risks at urban airports like Ahmedabad’s, located near wildlife-prone areas.
Comparisons to the 1988 Indian Airlines Flight 113 crash in the city have fueled calls for improved runway safety and wildlife management protocols. As recovery operations continue under floodlights, with teams focused on retrieving remains for identification, the DGCA anticipates a preliminary report within 48 hours, though a full investigation may take months. For now, Ahmedabad and the nation grieve the loss of all 242 souls aboard Flight AI171, a tragedy that will resonate in aviation history.
