Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025: What began as a routine international flight ended in unimaginable tragedy just moments after takeoff, as Air India Flight AI171 plummeted from the skies and crashed into a residential neighborhood of Ahmedabad. In a matter of minutes, 242 lives, families, children, seasoned crew, and unsuspecting travelers, were lost in one of the darkest days in India’s aviation history. The quiet of early morning was shattered by the roar of a falling aircraft and the anguished cries of witnesses, as a community woke to devastation it will never forget.
In addition to the dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444, we have added another hotline number for foreign nationals +91 8062779200. Air India requests media persons not to call the dedicated passenger hotline number.
AI171 Goes Silent After Mayday, Ends in Catastrophe
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the flight crew issued a Mayday call immediately after takeoff, but there was no subsequent communication with Air Traffic Control.
The passengers in the Air India Flight AI171 Crash victims included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian. Among the deceased was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The crash site was a densely populated area near a medical college, complicating rescue operations. Emergency teams have recovered over 30 bodies, and the search continues.
Flight AI171 Plunges Into City, Reports Suggest All 242 Passengers Lost Lives
Initial reports suggest that the aircraft’s landing gear was not retracted, and the flaps appeared to be extended during the descent. While the cause of the Flight AI171 crash remains under investigation, some experts speculate that a bird strike may have led to engine failure shortly after takeoff.
The DGCA and Air India have launched formal investigations into the incident. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the probe, with assistance from Boeing and other aviation safety agencies. The Flight AI171 crash marks the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 and is Air India’s most significant aviation disaster in decades.
AIR India Announces Two Dedicated Passenger Hotline, for Indian and Foreign Nationals for families of AI171 Crash victims
The UPDATE twitted by Air India : In addition to the dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444, we have added another hotline number for foreign nationals +91 8062779200. Air India requests media persons not to call the dedicated passenger hotline number.
