Air India Flight Crashes in Ahmedabad, 242 Onboard
Air India Plane Crashes After Takeoff from Ahmedabad, Former CM Vijay Rupani Was Onboard
A major tragedy struck at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport when an Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, carrying 242 passengers including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, collided with a building near the airport and burst into flames.
Crash After Takeoff: What Happened?
Flight AI-171 took off from Ahmedabad around noon, heading toward London. Within just 2 minutes of takeoff, the plane reportedly hit the airport boundary wall and crashed near the Air Customs Cargo Office — a location adjacent to the airport campus. The aircraft caught fire soon after the collision.
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— Ashish Singh (@AshishSinghKiJi) June 12, 2025
In #Ahmedabad Air India Flight crash 242 passenger on broad
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100+ Bodies Recovered, Rescue Still Ongoing
So far, over 100 bodies have been recovered from the wreckage. The passenger list included 53 British citizens, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian citizen. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which was involved in the crash, has a history of technical controversies — from battery-related issues to design flaws. It had previously been grounded worldwide for three months due to safety concerns. Two NDRF teams are present at the location, helping with the search and relief efforts.
Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani Was Among the Passengers
#BREAKING | Air India Ahmedabad-London flight crashes near airport in Gujarat's Meghani area
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) June 12, 2025
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One of the biggest shocks following the crash was the confirmation that Vijay Rupani, former Chief Minister of Gujarat, was onboard the ill-fated flight. His name appeared at number 12 on the passenger list, with seat number 2D. He was reportedly flying to London to visit his daughter.
Close aide Nitin Bhardwaj confirmed that Rupani was traveling on this flight. His boarding pass has also surfaced online following the accident.
Plane Hit Residential Building Housing Doctors
According to reports, the aircraft crashed into a residential apartment building near the airport, which houses doctors from Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. Firefighters, emergency teams, and police quickly reached the site.
Experienced Pilot at the Controls
The plane was being flown by Line Training Captain Sumeet Sabbarwal, who had over 8,200 flying hours of experience. Despite his expertise, the crash occurred in a highly unfortunate manner and will now be investigated thoroughly.
Flight Operations Suspended
Due to the accident, all flight operations at Ahmedabad International Airport have been temporarily suspended.
