Boeing Dreamliner crashes in residential area near airport; massive rescue efforts underway
Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025 – Tragedy struck the city of Ahmedabad today when an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner operating Flight AI171 to London Gatwick crashed minutes after takeoff, killing almost all people on board. One person survived by jumping out of the emergency exit. The aircraft came down in the densely populated Meghani (Meghaninagar) area shortly after lifting off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, triggering a large-scale emergency response.
Flight Details and Crash Scene
The doomed flight had 230 passengers and 12 crew on board. From preliminary reports by air authorities, the plane did not achieve the appropriate altitude and dived into a group of residential structures mostly occupied by medical practitioners. The neighborhood, less than 5 kilometers from the airport, was filled with fire and heavy smoke as the plane, loaded to capacity for the long-distance flight, blew up in a crash.
The crash occurred around 3:05 PM IST. Witnesses described a harrowing scene with debris scattered across the neighborhood, homes partially destroyed, and the smell of burning aviation fuel filling the air.
Casualties and Survivors
Unfortunately, almost all the people on the plane are assumed dead. Only one survivor was confirmed by the rescue teams, a male passenger in seat 11A, who was rescued alive from the crash and taken to a local hospital in critical condition. More than 25 others – a majority of whom are residents of the damaged buildings – have also incurred injuries of different magnitudes.
Authorities on the ground reported that the intense heat generated from the crash hindered quick rescue work. Firefighters said they arrived to find a lot of the fuselage thoroughly burned, even before reaching the area. A number of the wounded were medical students and personnel from the doctors’ quarters, hit by the plane.
Eyewitness Accounts
Eyewitnesses said the aircraft appeared to be in distress even before impact.
“I saw the plane flying unusually low. Then it tilted and nose-dived into the buildings. Within seconds, a loud explosion shook the entire neighborhood,” said Haresh Shah, a local resident.
Another eyewitness, working in an office nearby, described the moment of the crash as chaotic. “There was a deafening sound, followed by a fireball. We rushed outside and saw wreckage and flames everywhere. It was horrifying.”
Rescue and Emergency Response
Emergency response teams arrived within minutes. Six teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed, supported by local firefighters, paramedics, and police. The Army’s Golden Katar Division also joined rescue operations, helping to evacuate injured civilians and secure the crash site.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the scene and supervised the coordination of medical and relief services. A “green corridor” was established to fast-track ambulances transporting victims to hospitals.
Hospitals across the city were placed on high alert to receive casualties, and temporary shelters were set up for displaced residents.
Government and National Response
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, stating that the incident has “stunned and saddened the entire nation.” He assured full support from the central government and directed the Ministry of Civil Aviation to ensure a thorough investigation and relief efforts.
President Droupadi Murmu also conveyed her condolences, calling the crash a “heart-wrenching tragedy.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a Gujarat native, visited the site later in the evening and confirmed that the fire was so intense that survival was “almost impossible.”
Airline and Industry Reaction
Air India, now operated by the Tata Group, confirmed the crash in an official statement and expressed profound grief over the loss of lives. The airline announced an immediate compensation of ₹1 crore to the families of each deceased passenger and stated that help desks and emergency helplines had been activated for families.
Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran also pledged all necessary assistance to the victims’ families and thanked emergency teams for their efforts.
Ahmedabad airport briefly suspended all departures but resumed limited operations later in the evening.
Investigation and Next Steps
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have begun formal investigations. Preliminary analysis points to a possible technical fault, but officials stressed that no conclusions would be drawn until a thorough inquiry is completed.
Boeing has been informed and is likely to send technical experts to assist in the investigation. The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has also made plans to dispatch a team based on the aircraft’s American manufacturing background.
Flight data recorders (black boxes) have already been recovered and will be forwarded for decoding to identify the precise sequence of events that led to the crash.
A comprehensive investigation will last several weeks. In the meantime, the crash site is still cordoned off as forensic and safety officials continue to conduct their evaluation.
