Ahmedabad: Moment London-bound plane with 242 passengers crashed in India
Air India crash and other top plane accidents in 2025 raise concerns over aviation safety in the world.
Ahmedabad, India – Tragedy struck on Thursday afternoon as an Air India flight heading to London Gatwick crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport, plunging into a residential area and sparking widespread panic.
The ill-fated Flight AI171, carrying 232 passengers and 12 crew members, took off at 1:38pm local time but lost altitude within minutes, crashing into Meghani Nagar, a densely populated neighbourhood just beyond the airport’s perimeter.
Video footage now circulating on social media shows thick black plumes of smoke billowing into the sky, with emergency responders seen pulling victims from the wreckage and rushing them into waiting ambulances.
According to Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director General of the Directorate of Civil Aviation, the aircraft went down five minutes after takeoff, hitting homes in what has been described as a “civilian area,” causing additional casualties on the ground.
In an early statement, Air India confirmed that the flight was “involved in an incident” and said it was working to ascertain full details. The Indian aviation regulator also confirmed that the plane fell outside the airport’s perimeter shortly after departure.
The number of fatalities and injuries is yet to be officially confirmed, but multiple reports suggest both onboard and ground casualties. Search-and-rescue operations are currently underway, with local hospitals placed on high alert.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, but aviation experts say the critical five-minute window after takeoff is often the most vulnerable time for any aircraft.
This marks one of the worst aviation disasters in India in recent years and has prompted an urgent review of safety protocols by Indian civil aviation authorities.
More updates to follow as this story develops.
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