One survivor in Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, reports say

Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787‑8 bound for London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s SVPIA—losing radar contact at just 625 ft. Eyewitnesses report thick black smoke near Meghaninagar. Rescue operations are underway; investigation launched. #Ahmedabad… pic.twitter.com/c4qZIlnbGP

— The Squirrels (@thesquirrelsin) June 12, 2025

There are no survivors after an Air India aircraft  arrying 232 passengers and 10 crew members crashed shortly after take-off near the airport in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, officials said. There are reports of several deaths on the ground as well, as parts of the aircraft hit a medical college hostel.

Reports say that one person, a British citizen of Indian origin, survived the crash and walked away with injuries.

The flight was en route to London when it went down at 1:17 p.m. local time, authorities said. Heavy smoke was seen rising from the crash site near the Dharpur area of Meghaninagar. Emergency services, including fire brigade and disaster response teams, were deployed to the area.

The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, and civil aviation authorities have launched an investigation. The pilots had sent out a mayday (emergency) message just before the plane crashed within a short distance of the runway. 

Video footage shot from near the accident site shows the plane unable to gain height immediately after take off and crash into a fireball. The site of the accident is understood to be in a populated area.

Medical College Hit

The plane is understood to have crashed into the B J Medical College hostel, where students were having lunch. Injuries and casualties are feared from there as well.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Home Minister Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu following the incident. The prime minister directed both ministers to travel to Ahmedabad and oversee relief operations, according to a government statement. 

Earlier in the day, Shah also held discussions with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel regarding the emergency response. He has since left Delhi for Ahmedabad.

Air India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have not yet issued detailed statements.