The aftermath of the Air India flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad has left families and friends in profound grief. NDTV spoke exclusively with friends of five passengers who were on the flight, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport en route to London Gatwick. The friends shared that the five passengers had travelled to India to celebrate Eid and were on their way back to London.
The Air India flight AI171, carrying 242 passengers and crew, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian national, crashed on Thursday, June 12, 2025. The crash occurred minutes after the flight departed from Ahmedabad at 1:38 PM local time. Initial reports suggest there were no survivors. Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik stated that the plane crashed in a residential area, causing likely casualties on the ground as well.
The Air India has established a dedicated helpline, 1800 5691 444, to provide information and assistance to the families of the victims. For those calling from outside India, the number is 0091 8062779200. The UK Foreign Office has also set up a helpline for British nationals, reachable at 020 7008 5000.
Eyewitness accounts and initial reports indicate the aircraft crashed into a building housing medical students near the airport. Rescue operations are underway, with emergency services including fire tenders, ambulances, and disaster response units deployed to the crash site.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has commenced an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Aviation experts are analyzing flight data and other evidence to understand the sequence of events leading to the accident. Preliminary reports suggest the pilots sent out a 'Mayday' call shortly after takeoff, but there was no further communication.
The crash has sent shockwaves through the aviation industry, particularly as the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has generally had a good safety record. Boeing has stated they are aware of the initial reports and are working to gather more information.
