The Government of India has finally shared details about the tragic Air India plane crash that happened in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, killing at least 260 people.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner (Flight AI 171) took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 PM. Just one minute later, the plane crashed into a medical hostel complex in the Meghaninagar area, about 2 kilometers from the airport.
Civil aviation secretary Samir Kumar Sinha said the aircraft climbed to only 650 feet before it started losing height. At 1:39 PM, the pilot sent a distress signal, known as a “Mayday” call, to Air Traffic Control (ATC). However, when ATC tried to contact the plane again, there was no response.
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Aircraft Had No Issues Before the Crash
Secretary Sinha also mentioned that the same aircraft had earlier flown from Paris to Delhi and then to Ahmedabad without any problems.
Deep Condolences from the Aviation Minister
Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu expressed deep sorrow and sympathy for the families of those who lost their lives. He shared his own personal experience of losing his father in a road accident to show understanding of the grief families are going through.
Investigation and Safety Checks Underway
The government has started checking other Air India Boeing 787 planes. So far, 8 out of 34 Dreamliner aircraft in India have already been inspected, as directed by the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Casualties
There were 242 people on board the aircraft, including:
- 169 Indians
- 53 British citizens
- 7 Portuguese nationals
- 1 Canadian
- 12 crew members
Tragically, 241 people on the flight died. Only one person survived. Additionally, more than 20 people in the building that the plane crashed into also lost their lives.
What Experts Say
Aviation experts believe that the plane’s unusual flight pattern — going down while still having its nose up — may point to a sudden engine failure. However, the exact cause of the crash can only be confirmed after a full investigation.
