In a tragic development, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed that Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner registered as VT-ANB, crashed immediately after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The aircraft was en route to London Gatwick and was carrying 242 people, including 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew.
According to the DGCA statement, the aircraft took off from runway 23 at 13:39 IST and issued a MAYDAY call to Air Traffic Control (ATC) shortly after departure. However, the aircraft did not respond to any further ATC communications and crashed just outside the airport perimeter.
The flight was commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain (LTC) with 8,200 flying hours, assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 hours of flying experience.
Eyewitnesses and initial response teams reported heavy black smoke rising from the crash site, confirming the severity of the incident. Emergency and rescue operations are underway at the location in the Meghani Nagar area, just beyond the airport boundary.
Further updates from Air India and civil aviation authorities are expected as the investigation progresses.
Disclaimer: This article is based on official statements and preliminary information. Full details will be provided as they are made available by the relevant authorities.
