According to multiple reports Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, went down shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad, India.
The jet carried 242 people—230 passengers and 12 crew members—from around the globe: mostly Indian nationals, along with British, Portuguese, and a Canadian traveler.
Just five minutes after departure at 1:38 PM local time, the plane crashed into the Meghani Nagar neighborhood, hitting buildings on the ground, including a medical college hostel.
First responders said the impact and ensuing blaze were catastrophic, involving dozens of fire trucks to control the flames.
Ahmedabad’s police commissioner confirmed the worst fears: it appears there are no survivors among passengers, crew, or the individuals on the ground.
At least 204 bodies have been recovered so far, and tragically, medical students housed in the damaged hostel are among the casualties.
This is the first-ever deadly crash involving a Boeing 787, a plane model widely considered safe since its debut in Among the wreckage, officials even located one survivor—a British passenger in seat 11A—who is now receiving hospital care.
Global leaders are speaking out: India’s Prime Minister Modi called the crash “heartbreaking beyond words,” while King Charles and other international voices offered condolences and praised rescue teams risking their lives amid the flames.
Air India confirmed the disaster in a message on X (formerly Twitter) and has set up a hotline to support the affected families
The airline is working with U.K. and Indian regulators—including Boeing—on the investigation.
