In a tragic incident, an Air India Boeing 787 aircraft (registration VT-ANB) operating as flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed immediately after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, 2025. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has released a preliminary statement detailing the sequence of events leading up to the crash.
The aircraft, with 242 people on board — including 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew — took off from runway 23 at 13:39 IST (0809 UTC). It was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with 8,200 hours of flying experience. The First Officer, Clive Kundar, had 1,100 hours of experience.
Shortly after takeoff, the pilots issued a MAYDAY call to Air Traffic Control (ATC), indicating a critical emergency. However, after that distress signal, the aircraft ceased all communication. Moments later, it crashed just outside the airport perimeter, in Ahmedabad’s Meghani Nagar area.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing a massive plume of black smoke. Visuals from the site show the aircraft engulfed in flames and debris scattered across residential rooftops.
Emergency teams were immediately deployed to the crash site, and rescue operations are underway. The extent of casualties is not yet confirmed, and official statements from Air India and the Ministry of Civil Aviation are awaited.
The incident has raised serious questions regarding the cause of the crash, and a detailed probe is expected. For now, India mourns a devastating aviation tragedy.
