An Air India Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, Flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, with 232 passengers and 12 crew onboard, has crashed into a residential area at 13:38 IST today, marking the first fatal accident involving the Dreamliner.
The aircraft, registration VT‑ANB, lost altitude shortly after take-off, issuing an early mayday before descending rapidly from approximately 625 feet into the Meghani Nagar district, sparking a massive fireball and black smoke visible across the city.
Emergency services responded immediately, deploying seven fire engines, ambulances, and National Disaster Response Force teams. Both Union Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and Home Minister Amit Shah have mobilised central agencies to assist local authorities.
Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu addressed the incident, stating he is “shocked and devastated.”
“We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action. Rescue teams have been mobilised, 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,” he said
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation, with preliminary reports indicating the crash occurred within five minutes of departure.
In a statement posted on X, Air India’s chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, says “with profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today”.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event,” he says. “At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families.We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted.
“Further updates will be shared as we receive more verified information. An emergency centre has been activated and support team have been set up for families seeking information.”
A spokesperson from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad has confirmed that the airport is currently not operational, with all flights suspended until further notice.
According to the Aviation Safety Database, this is the first fatal incident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
(This is a developing story)
