Catastrophe in Ahmedabad: Air India Flight 171 claims at least 269 lives
- Paul Aage Hegvik
- Jun 13
- 7 min read
Ahmedabad, June 13, 2025 — A Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner operating as Air India Flight 171 crashed into a hostel at B.J. Medical College shortly after departing Ahmedabad for London on June 12 at 1:38 p.m. local time.
The aircraft carried 230 passengers and 12 crew members.
On board: According to official records, 241 passengers and crew lost their lives.
On the ground: At least 28 people in the building were killed and more than 60 injured. Police have confirmed that at least 269 total fatalities occurred when combining air and ground deaths.
Survivor: A lone survivor—a British national seated in 11A—escaped with moderate injuries and is recovering in hospital. This is according to Times of India and other media outlets/
Immediate reactions
Following the crash of Air India Flight 171, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the tragedy «heartbreaking beyond words» and offered his deepest condolences to the victims and their families. He stated that he was in constant contact with key ministers and local authorities to coordinate the emergency response.
Modi confirmed the rapid deployment of NDRF, IAF, BSF, and NSG teams to assist with rescue and recovery. He also announced plans to visit Ahmedabad personally to oversee relief operations and meet with officials and survivors.
The Prime Minister assured the nation that the central government would provide full support to the affected families, both financially and through continued assistance on the ground.
Health and Transport Authorities have mobilized support. Punya Salila Srivastava, the health secretary confirmed «many» perished and over 60 students from the medical college have been injured.
The Minister of transport along with the Civil aviation minister said a high‑level committee will investigate the crash.
–Working around the clock
In a somber video address, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson acknowledged the gravity of the disaster, calling it «a difficult day for all of us.» He assured the public that the airline would cooperate fully with investigators and pledged transparency as the inquiry unfolds.
«Investigations will take time,» Wilson said, «but we will continue to share accurate and timely information.» He added that Air India teams were «working around the clock» to support the families of passengers and crew, as well as to assist emergency services and investigators on the ground.
Boeing weighs in
Kelly Ortberg, Boeing’s CEO, expressed deep condolences and confirmed Boeing is assisting:
«Our deepest condolences go out…a Boeing team stands ready to support the investigation led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.»
Pilot Experience – Air India Flight 171
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal had over 8,200 flight hours and was a line-training captain—considered a high level of experience for long-haul operations.First Officer Clive Kundar had logged around 1,100 flight hours, which is within the normal range for a junior co-pilot on international routes.The crew issued a mayday call seconds after takeoff and made efforts to control the aircraft during its short, unstable climb.
Flight 171 in context: Air India’s safety record
This crash marks the first fatal accident and hull loss of a Boeing 787 since its 2009 introduction—and Air India’s first hull loss since the 1985 bombing of Flight 182. Other deadly incidents in recent decades include:
Air India in perspective
11 fatal crashes and 1 ground-fatality confirmed for Air India as of June 2025—spanning from its inception in 1932 to the recent Flight 171 disaster.
Major crashes include:
1947–1950: Three early fatal accidents.
1978: Boeing 747 crash into the Arabian Sea, 213 killed.
2010: Air India Express Flight 812 overshot Mangalore runway, 158 fatalities.
2020: Air India Express Flight 1344 overran at Kozhikode, 21 fatalities..
2025: Air India Flight 171 crashed soon after takeoff, killing 241 individuals on board and 28 on the ground, totaling 269 fatalities.
CCTV footage shows Air India Flight 171 moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The Boeing 787 appears to struggle with altitude and speed before banking left, ultimately crashing into a building just 2 kilometers from the runway. Investigators suspect mechanical failure related to flaps or landing gear configuration. Credit: Shiv Aroor, Wikipedia, Public domain
Industry-wide accident rates
In 2023, the global civil aviation accident rate was 1.13 accidents per million flights—better than the prior 5‑year average of 1.25..
Despite 16 fatal accidents and 333 deaths in 2023, these were out of around 37 million flights, reaffirming air travel’s status as statistically very safe.
How Air India stacks up
Air India’s 11 fatal accidents over 90 years is relatively high compared to top-tier global carriers operating over similar spans—most leading airlines report far fewer.
Notably, according to reuters.com, most accidents occurred before modernization efforts under the Tata Group in 2022
In contrast, many major global carriers have experienced zero fatal hull-loss accidents in recent decades.
Experts say the 2025 crash may result from an unusual combination of landing gear not retracting and flaps misaligned, starving the aircraft of lift even during initial climb. Investigators will analyze cockpit CVR/FDR data and video evidence confirming the plane’s low-altitude trajectory.
«Preliminary video shows the Dreamliner shedding altitude with gear down and flaps up—unusual for a takeoff». Geoffrey Thomas Aviation analyst
«At least 269 bodies brought in, including at least 28 on ground». Vishaka Dabral Police official
«There was 1.25 lakh litre (Editor's note: 1.25 lakh liters = 125,000 liters) of fuel inside … intense heat gave no chance to save lives». Amit Shah Home Minister
What’s next?
A joint investigation involving India’s AAIB, U.S. NTSB, U.K. authorities, and Boeing has begun.
DNA identification, relief flights, and compensation are underway. Tata Sons, after privatizing Air India in 2022, pledged financial aid to victims’ families.
Flight safety under Tata management is under fresh scrutiny; the crash is a huge blow to Air India’s goal of becoming a «world‑class airline”.
In summary
Fatalities: At least 269 (241 aboard + 28 on ground).
Survivor: 1, a British passenger.
Key issues: Unusual flight configuration, heavy fuel load, crash into crowded building.
Accountability: Ongoing international probe.
Impact: A devastating setback for Air India’s recovery and India’s ambition to lead in global aviation.
Air India – Key facts (June 2025)
CEO: Campbell Wilson (since June 2022; former Scoot CEO at Singapore Airlines)
Ownership: Tata Sons (74.9%), Singapore Airlines (25.1%)
Main hub: Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi (DEL)
Secondary hubs: Bengaluru (BLR), Mumbai (BOM)
Focus cities: Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram
Fleet size: Approximately 190–196 active aircraft
Fleet types: Airbus A319, A320, A321 (including neo variants), A350-900; Boeing 787-8, 787-9, 777-200LR, 777-300ER
Fleet orders: Over 570 new aircraft on order from Airbus and Boeing
210 A320neo family aircraft
40 A350 (including A350-900 and A350-1000)
190 Boeing 737 MAX for Air India Express
20 Boeing 787-910 Boeing 777-9
Additional 200 narrow-body jets under negotiation
Destinations: 92 to 102 total (44 domestic, 48+ international)
International coverage: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Australia, Middle East
Employees:
Over 9,000 staff at Air India
Over 7,000 at Air India Express (after AIX Connect merger). The AIX Connect merger refers to the consolidation of two Indian low-cost airlines: Air India Express and AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India).
Financials (FY 2023–24):
Revenue: ₹38,812 crore (US$4.7 billion)
Net loss: ₹4,444 crore (US$520 million)
Loss narrowed from previous year’s ₹11,388 crore
Modernization & Strategy:
₹400 crore aircraft cabin retrofit program for 67 jets (ongoing)
Strategic five-year transformation plan "Vihaan.AI" in effect since 2022
Consolidation of Air India Express and AIX Connect nearly complete
Aim: To become a «world-class global airline».
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at dusk, glowing in purple. Few know it was declared an international airport only in 2000, despite being operational since 1937. It is also one of India’s first airports to introduce a semi-automated cargo terminal and is set to be overtaken in size by the upcoming Dholera International Airport. Photo: Rupturestriker, Wikipedia CC BY 4.0 Facts about the airport in Ahmedabad
Airport Name: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport IATA / ICAO Code: AMD / VAAH Location: Hansol, ~9–11 km from central Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India Operator: Adani Group (under lease from Airports Authority of India) Opened: 1937 (International since 1991; designated in 2000) Elevation: 58 m (189 ft)
Runway:
1 runway (05/23), 3,505 meters, asphalt surface
Passenger Traffic (FY 2024–25):
13.43 million passengers
101,119 aircraft movements
103,050 tons of cargo
Terminals:
Terminal 1: Domestic
Terminal 2: International
Cargo terminal
Apron for widebodies (Boeing 747, A320s) Apron: The area at an airport where planes park, load/unload passengers and cargo, and get refueled or serviced. Airlines & Destinations:
Major carriers: Air India, IndiGo, Vistara, Emirates, Qatar Airways
Domestic + international to Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe
Facilities:
Lounges, duty-free, 30 min free Wi-Fi, ATMs, forex, medical aid
Ground transport: taxis, app-based cabs, airport bus
Expansion Plans:
Capacity upgrade to 16 million passengers/year
New terminal and ATC under construction
Dholera International Airport nearby under development
Total non-stop routes: 56 destinations in 11–12 countries, served by ~23 airlines.
Domestic (approximately 39 cities):
Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Goa (Dabolim & Mopa), Srinagar, Amritsar, Lucknow, Varanasi, Kochi, Guwahati, Dehradun, Patna, Raipur, Bhopal, Jodhpur, Jammu, Diu, Bhubaneswar, Thiruvananthapuram, Ayodhya, Nanded, Kolhapur, Bhuj, Jalgaon, Udaipur, Keshod, Belgaum, Bagdogra, Junagadh/Veraval.
International (about 17 cities):
Middle East & Gulf: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Doha, Kuwait City, Jeddah, Najaf.
Southeast Asia: Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang), Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Da Nang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Europe: London Gatwick
