Air India AI171 Crash in Ahmedabad Claims 209 Lives; Former CM Vijay Rupani Among Victims

Ahmedabad: Air India flight AI171, operating a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Ahmedabad to London-Gatwick, crashed into a residential area near Meghani Nagar minutes after takeoff on 12 June, killing at least 209 people, including passengers, crew and individuals on the ground at the time of reporting, according to government official sources.

It was also told that 59 others have sustained injuries and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is among those who are the victims of one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s recent history.

The aircraft, registered VT-ANB, took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 PM. Just five minutes into the flight, the pilot issued a “Mayday” distress call. However, there was no further response from the cockpit. The aircraft crashed shortly thereafter from an altitude of just 625 feet.

Furthermore, the Tata Group has issued a heartfelt statement expressing deep sorrow and solidarity with the victims and their families. Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, in a social media post, stated that the Tata Group will provide Rs 1 crore to the families of each person who lost their life in the incident.

The conglomerate will also bear the full medical expenses of the injured passengers and crew members to ensure they receive necessary treatment and rehabilitation. Additionally, the Tata Group will contribute to the reconstruction and support of the B J Medical College hostel, which was affected by the crash impact. The announcement underscores the company’s humanitarian approach and its resolve to provide both immediate relief and long-term support to those affected.

However, locals witnessed thick black smoke and fire engulfing the crash site, with flames visible from several kilometres away. Video footage on social media showed debris strewn across the densely populated Meghani Nagar neighbourhood, located just outside the airport perimeter. Emergency response teams have restricted the impact area.

Officials stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed personally by the Minister of Civil Aviation (MoCA) Rammohan Naidu.

It was also told that the PM has directed the ministry to ensure all necessary support is extended and to keep him regularly updated. Shri Naidu is en route to Ahmedabad to oversee the rescue and relief operations.

Additionally, an Operational Control Room has been activated at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and teams from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are also heading to the site.

The crash has led to a temporary suspension of all flight operations at Ahmedabad Airport, although later, the Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that the airport was reopened for operations from 4:05 PM after safety protocols were reviewed.

The incident marks the first-ever fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its introduction in 2011.

Known for its long-haul capabilities, fuel efficiency, and advanced composite structure, the Dreamliner had carried over a billion passengers across thousands of global routes without a major crash. The aircraft involved in today’s tragedy had been in service since January 2014.

Boeing has acknowledged the incident and issued a statement saying: “We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected.”

However, the crash adds another chapter to Boeing’s ongoing safety and quality control woes. While the Dreamliner series has largely maintained a clean record, past incidents involving the 787-8 have raised concerns, including structural faults, material quality issues and critical equipment failures. In one such event, a United Airlines Dreamliner experienced a mid-air incident due to technical failures.

Investigations into today’s crash will likely scrutinise both the aircraft’s maintenance history and the actions taken during the critical minutes following takeoff.

It should be noted that Italian authorities had previously investigated concerns over substandard metals supplied for the Dreamliner series and scrutiny over Boeing’s quality control practices continues globally.

However, questions are being raised about how such a modern aircraft with an experienced crew could suffer such a catastrophic failure so shortly after departure.

Further details are expected from the accident investigation teams already on-site, as well as an official announcement regarding the death of the former CM of Gujarat and further action plan from MoCA.

For emergency assistance, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has activated helpline numbers: 011-24610843 and 9650391859. Air India, meanwhile, shared a passenger hotline number to share more details: 1800-5691-444.

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