Air India Plane Crashes in Ahmedabad With 242 Onboard, Officials Confirm
Air India revealed the nationalities of the passengers onboard, which included 169 Indian citizens, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — An Air India passenger jet bound for London Gatwick crashed Thursday shortly after takeoff from the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, killing or injuring an unspecified number of passengers in what aviation authorities described as a “tragic accident,” according to the Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people—including two pilots and 10 cabin crew—issued a mayday call before going down just outside the airport perimeter, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reported.
Thick plumes of black smoke could be seen billowing from the crash site, located near densely populated residential areas surrounding Ahmedabad’s busy international airport, an AFP journalist at the scene said.
India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said he was “shocked and devastated” by the incident and confirmed that all aviation and emergency agencies were instructed to act “swiftly and in coordination.” He added, “Rescue teams have been mobilized, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site. My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families.”
Air India revealed the nationalities of the passengers onboard, which included 169 Indian citizens, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.
“This is a heartbreaking day,” said the chairman of Air India. “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event.” He also noted that an emergency response center has been activated and a special support team is available to assist families seeking information.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also reacted to the tragedy, calling the crash “devastating” and expressing solidarity with the victims. “my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time,” he said.
The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 12, 2025
I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time.
Authorities have not yet released casualty figures as rescue and recovery operations remain ongoing.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information about casualties becomes available.
