Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani on board ill-fated flight to London
AHMEDABAD: In a tragic incident on Thursday, an Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, claiming several lives. The Boeing Dreamliner aircraft, flight AI171, had 242 people onboard, including 232 passengers, two pilots and ten cabin crew. The plane went down in the densely populated Meghani Nagar area, just five minutes after its departure at 1:39 pm local time.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft lost altitude rapidly after taking off from runway 23. The crash site, now cordoned off, was seen engulfed in thick smoke, with visuals quickly circulating across social media platforms.
Air India confirmed the crash in an official post on X, stating, “Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. We are working to ascertain details.” The DGCA has begun a detailed investigation into the cause of the crash.
Immediate rescue efforts were carried out by local residents and emergency services, who responded swiftly despite the challenging terrain and congestion. Several fire trucks, ambulances, and police units were deployed on-site.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel left Surat and arrived in Ahmedabad to assess the situation personally. He was joined by senior state officials. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also reviewed the developments with local authorities and assured central government support for relief operations.
Among the passengers was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, whose presence onboard has been confirmed by his office. His condition remains unverified at the time of reporting.
The aircraft was under the command of Capt Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder. The incident has cast a spotlight on aviation safety and emergency response readiness in densely populated urban areas.
This crash marks one of the most serious aviation disasters in recent Indian history. More updates are expected as authorities continue rescue efforts and begin identifying the victims.
