Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Pilot Issued Mayday Call Moments Before Tragedy
Ahmedabad: An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating flight AI171 crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon, June 12, 2025, resulting in a devastating loss of life.
The London-bound flight carried 230 passengers and 12 crew members—totaling 242 people on board. According to sources, the pilot transmitted a urgent Mayday distress call to Air Traffic Control just moments before the aircraft went down. The plane had departed around 1:10 PM and crashed near the Ghoda Camp area, close to the airport perimeter, in a densely populated zone between Meghaninagar and Ahmedabad Cantonment.
Preliminary reports indicate the aircraft struggled to gain altitude and came down in a residential area, with eyewitnesses describing loud explosions and thick plumes of smoke rising from the site. The crash occurred into the vicinity of a medical college hostel, triggering an immediate and large-scale emergency response.
Air India Statement
In an official statement, Air India confirmed the incident: “Flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. We are currently ascertaining all details and will provide further updates at the earliest.”
Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran expressed profound sorrow, stating: “With deep regret, I confirm that Air India flight AI171 was involved in a tragic accident. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to the families and loved ones of all those affected.”
He added that the airline’s immediate priority was to support the families and assist emergency teams working at the crash site.
Emergency Efforts and Reported Casualties
Rescue personnel and firefighters rushed to the scene as thick black smoke billowed from the wreckage. While official confirmation on survivor status was initially pending, reports indicated that 241 of the 242 people on board perished, with one survivor—a British national of Indian origin—reported in later updates. Additional fatalities and injuries were reported among people on the ground at the impact site.
This marks one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent Indian history. Investigations by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and other authorities are underway to determine the exact cause, including analysis of the black box data and the sequence of events following the Mayday call.
The story continues to develop, with more details expected as rescue operations conclude and the formal inquiry progresses.
