Flight To London Carrying 242 People Crashes At Ahmedabad Airport

A plane with 242 passengers on board has crashed at Ahmedabad Airport in India, according to local media reports.

The aircraft, which was en route to Gatwick, London, went down during takeoff from the airport, Reuters reported, citing local TV stations.

Footage shared on social media shows thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky near the airport in the western city.

People were seen being carried on stretchers and transported in ambulances.

Police reported that the Air India aircraft crashed in a “civilian area” outside the airport.

According to Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director General of the Directorate of Civil Aviation, the plane went down in a residential neighborhood known as Meghani Nagar, he told the Associated Press.

The crash occurred five minutes after takeoff at 1:38 p.m. local time, according to Kidwai. He confirmed that 232 passengers and 12 crew members were on board.

In a statement, Air India confirmed that a flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick was “involved in an incident today.”

The airline identified the aircraft as flight AI171.

India’s Civil Aviation Minister has expressed that he is “shocked and devastated” by the plane crash.

“I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action,” says Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu.

“Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site.

“My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families.”

According to the Aviation Safety Network database, this marks the first-ever crash of a Boeing 787 aircraft.

The 787 Dreamliner is a widebody, twin-engine jet.

Since its inaugural passenger flight 14 years ago, the model has completed over five million flights.

How many more Boeing planes are gonna crash before someone is actually held accountable?

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— Alex Stein #99 (@alexstein99) June 12, 2025