Air India plane carrying 242 people crashes 

Reports from June 12, 2025, indicate that an Air India passenger plane (Flight AI171) bound for London Gatwick with 242 people on board crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India.

Here’s what is known so far:

Casualties: Officials have stated that there appear to be no survivors from the 242 people on board (230 passengers and 12 crew members). The crash also resulted in casualties on the ground as the plane went down in a residential area, hitting a doctors’ hostel and parts of the BJ Medical College.

Aircraft: The plane involved was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. This marks the first fatal crash of a Boeing 787 aircraft.

Timeline: The flight departed Ahmedabad at 1:39 PM local time. It issued a “Mayday” call shortly after takeoff, but there was no further response. Flight tracking data shows the signal was lost just seconds after takeoff, at an altitude of 625 feet.

Nationalities: Among those on board were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian national.

Response: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have expressed their condolences. Rescue operations are underway, and an investigation has been launched by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to determine the cause of the crash.

Cause: The exact cause of the crash is not yet determined, but initial reports suggest a sudden descent and explosion minutes after takeoff. The aircraft was reportedly carrying a substantial fuel load for its long-haul flight.

Airport Closure: Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport was temporarily closed after the incident but has since resumed operations.