Air India Flight Crashes Near Ahmedabad Minutes After Takeoff, Signal Lost at 625 Feet
NEW DELHI: A London-bound Air India flight crashes in a densely populated area near Meghaninagar, Ahmedabad, shortly after takeoff on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred around 2:00 pm, moments after the aircraft departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
According to data from Flightradar24, Flight AI171, en route to London Gatwick, lost radar contact less than a minute after takeoff—at an altitude of just 625 feet.
The aircraft plunged into a residential neighborhood, sparking a massive blaze and widespread panic among local residents. Thick black smoke was seen rising from the crash site as emergency teams rushed to respond.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanan Desai stated that efforts were underway to determine the number of casualties. Several injured individuals have already been transported to the city civil hospital.
Fire officer Jayesh Khadia reported that multiple fire tenders were deployed immediately to contain the fire. Emergency response units, including police, fire services, and medical teams, initiated large-scale rescue and evacuation operations.
Air India issued an official statement on X (formerly Twitter):
“Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad–London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. We are currently verifying the details and will provide updates on our website and X handle.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other senior officials, pledging full central support for relief and investigation efforts.
