The Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 1:39 PM local time. The aircraft, carrying 242 passengers and crew, plummeted into a residential area in Meghaninagar, near a medical college hostel, just outside the airport perimeter. The crash resulted in the tragic loss of 265 lives, including 241 passengers and crew members, as well as at least 25 people on the ground. Among the deceased were former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, five MBBS students, and a PG resident doctor. Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British man sitting in seat 11A, miraculously survived the crash and is currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
Immediately after the crash, the pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, issued a "Mayday" call to Air Traffic Control (ATC). A Mayday call is an internationally recognized distress signal used in aviation and maritime communications to indicate a life-threatening emergency. The term originates from the French phrase "m'aider," meaning "help me." To ensure clarity, the word "Mayday" must be repeated three times consecutively. This signals to ATC that the distressed aircraft has "grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance".
Upon receiving a Mayday call, all non-urgent radio communications must cease, giving absolute priority to the distressed aircraft. The pilot typically provides essential information such as aircraft identification, current position, the nature of the emergency, the number of people on board, remaining fuel, and specific assistance required. Air traffic controllers then coordinate with emergency services, nearby airports, and other aircraft to provide maximum assistance and clear airspace for emergency procedures. In the case of AI171, the Mayday call was the final communication from the aircraft, as it crashed moments later.
Following the crash, a formal investigation was launched by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with support from a team of US investigators led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Air India and Boeing have pledged full cooperation with the investigation. Within 28 hours, both the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder, commonly known as the "black boxes," were recovered from the crash site. These devices are crucial for reconstructing the sequence of events leading up to the crash.
The investigation process comprises three major phases: collection of evidence, analysis and investigation, and documentation and reporting. Investigators will gather images, videos, and interview witnesses. They will also secure important artifacts from the crash site to aid in the investigation. Technical specialists will disassemble parts of the plane, such as engines and other components, and may use flight simulators to recreate the moments leading up to the crash. They will also review crew experience and training, aircraft maintenance records, and external factors such as weather conditions.
DGCA has directed intensified safety inspections of Air India's Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 fleet. India is also mulling grounding the Boeing 787-8 fleet of aircraft. Air India has announced two relief flights from Mumbai and New Delhi for the families of the victims and Air India staff. The parent company, Tata Group, has announced ₹1 crore compensation for each victim's family.
