Tragic Air India Flight AI 171 Crash: What We Know So Far
Air India Flight Crashes Shortly After Takeoff
An Air India aircraft, designated Flight AI 171, tragically crashed on Thursday shortly after departing from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Gujarat, following a distress call of “Mayday,” as reported by aviation officials.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the Boeing 787 took off from runway 23 at 1:39 p.m. local time, heading towards London Gatwick Airport. Onboard were 242 individuals, comprising two pilots, ten cabin crew members, and 232 passengers.
Check out the viral footage that captures the harrowing moments leading up to the crash.
Terrifying final moments of Air India Flight AI 171 crashing into a residential area in Ahmedabad today. Clearly catastrophic loss of lift. Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/TbgCjPLXXc
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) June 12, 2025
The DGCA noted that there was no communication from the aircraft to air traffic control following the distress signal. A “Mayday” call is a globally recognized emergency alert indicating a critical situation.
Currently, there is no confirmed information regarding casualties.
A 17-second clip circulating on social media depicted the plane crashing into a residential area, with thick black smoke billowing from the vicinity of the airport. Emergency services dispatched at least two dozen ambulances to the site, while local law enforcement redirected traffic away from the area.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had accumulated 8,200 hours of flight experience, was in command of the flight, as per DGCA reports. First Officer Clive Kundar had 1,100 hours of flying time. Aviation expert Sanjay Lazar informed a media channel that the aircraft experienced a catastrophic lift failure at a low altitude of merely 825 feet.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu stated that he is closely overseeing the situation and has instructed aviation and emergency services to act swiftly and in coordination.
In a statement, Air India revealed that among the passengers, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were British, seven were Portuguese, and one was Canadian. The airline confirmed that injured individuals were being transported to local hospitals and that a dedicated helpline for passengers has been established at 1800-5691-444.
“Air India is fully cooperating with the authorities conducting the investigation into this incident,” the airline added.