On June 12, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed just minutes after takeoff. The aircraft slammed into a student hostel at B.J. Medical College in a densely populated residential area, igniting a massive fireball and plumes of dark smoke that could be seen across the city.

Of the 242 people on board—230 passengers and 12 crew members—241 have tragically lost their lives. One passenger, seated in 11A, miraculously survived. Local residents pulled him from the wreckage, and he is now under treatment at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.

Authorities confirm that, in addition to those on board, at least five medical students, a postgraduate resident doctor, and the wife of a senior physician were killed on the ground when the plane struck the hostel. The total death toll has risen to at least 265 as rescue teams continue to recover remains and conduct DNA identification.

Eyewitness footage from nearby CCTV cameras shows the Dreamliner struggling to ascend, its landing gear still extended, before plunging into the building. Investigators have retrieved the flight data and cockpit voice recorders and are analyzing them to determine the cause of this unprecedented disaster.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ordered full-scale rescue and relief operations. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and Home Minister Amit Shah have both flown to Ahmedabad to oversee the response, meet with survivors’ families, and pledge government support. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has thanked foreign governments for their condolences on social media.

Air India’s CEO has expressed his deepest condolences to the victims’ families and assured the public that the airline is cooperating fully with investigators. Boeing and GE Aerospace have also pledged technical assistance.

This accident marks the first hull loss of a Boeing 787 and the deadliest aviation accident in India since 2010. Officials stress that a definitive cause may take months to determine, but they are focusing on mechanical records, maintenance logs, and crew actions in the critical moments after takeoff.

Ahmedabad residents have opened their doors to first responders, held vigils for the victims, and organized blood donation drives. The global Indian diaspora is rallying to support bereaved families in the UK, Canada, and beyond.

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