Ahmedabad: In a tragic incident, Air India flight AI-171, en route to London’s Gatwick Airport with 232 passengers and 12 crew members, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday. The aircraft went down near Meghaninagar, a densely populated area, triggering panic among residents. Thick black smoke from the crash site was visible as far as Vastrapur, alarming people across the city.
Emergency teams, including the fire brigade, rushed to the scene immediately to carry out rescue operations. Local residents also joined the efforts to assist passengers and authorities. As of now, officials have not confirmed the number of casualties or the extent of the damage.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Ahmedabad Police Commissioner regarding the incident. The central government has assured all necessary support to the state. Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has left for Ahmedabad to personally assess the situation.
Air India, in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), acknowledged the crash, stating:
“Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad–London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest on airindia.com and on our X handle.”
According to early reports, the crash occurred just minutes after takeoff, and the aircraft came down in a residential locality, raising concerns about casualties on the ground. Rescue operations are ongoing, and updates are expected as more information becomes available.
Notably, sources have revealed that former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the passengers on board the ill-fated flight. His condition remains unknown as officials continue to verify details.
