June 12, (THEWILL) – An Air India passenger aircraft carrying 242 people on board has crashed in a fireball near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India.
The aircraft, operating Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, reportedly went down shortly after take-off, with thick plumes of black smoke seen rising from the crash site.
Eyewitnesses described a massive explosion followed by flames engulfing parts of the aircraft’s wreckage.
According to officials, the plane crashed in a civilian area just outside the airport perimeter. The Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services Department has deployed several units to the scene, where rescue operations are currently ongoing.
Dramatic visuals from the crash site showed burning debris scattered across the area as emergency responders worked to control the blaze and search for survivors.
The police confirmed the crash occurred in a populated area near the airport, raising concerns about potential casualties on the ground.
In a brief statement, Air India said:
“Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad–London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest on airindia.com and on our X handle (https://x.com/airindia).”
Authorities have yet to confirm the number of casualties or the cause of the crash.
The airline and aviation regulators are expected to launch a full investigation.
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