Shocking Tragedy: Air India Dreamliner Crash in Ahmedabad
It’s hard to put into words the shockwaves that hit Ahmedabad when an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner nose-dived into a residential area just seconds after leaving Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. On June 13, 2025, Flight AI-171, headed to London, fell from the sky merely 30 seconds after takeoff, erupting in a fireball that quickly engulfed the homes below. In those brief moments, 265 lives—including 230 passengers, 2 pilots, and 10 crew—were lost. Among them was Vijay Rupani, former Chief Minister of Gujarat, stirring an extra layer of grief and disbelief across the country.
The aircraft’s final moments were witnessed by residents living near the airport. One local recalled seeing the jet flying unusually low, its landing gear apparently still down. “It just didn’t climb,” he said, as others described a whistling roar and blasts that shattered windows and hearts alike. The plane crashed into residential quarters with such force that the explosion was heard miles away. Flames quickly spread through the crash site, leaving charred wreckage and a smoky haze hanging over the neighborhood.
First responders—fire crews and paramedics—rushed in minutes after the impact. Teams battled difficult conditions, using foam and water hoses to control the blaze fueled by the plane’s fuel tanks. Ambulances sped away from the site, ferrying the injured and the deceased to local hospitals. The search for survivors continued late into the night, as families gathered nearby, desperate for news about loved ones who’d boarded that ill-fated flight.
Helpline Numbers and Investigation Efforts
Amid chaos and confusion, authorities moved quickly to set up helplines for frantic families and relatives. Key numbers include the Delhi Control Room at 011-24610843 and 9650391859, while Ahmedabad’s Operation Control Room can be reached at 9978405304 and 079-23251900. These lines were deluged with calls from both within India and overseas, as the global Indian community reeled from the disaster.
Even as rescue operations continued, the investigation kicked off without delay. India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) were first on the ground, searching for the flight data and cockpit voice recorders. A team from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) joined in almost immediately, given that the Boeing 787 is an American-built aircraft. Their role: to provide technical know-how and look for clues hidden in the wreckage, from possible mechanical failures to pilot error or unforeseen weather issues.
- The flight’s cockpit was manned by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 flying hours together—not inexperienced, but nowhere near senior-level either.
- Witnesses saw the plane lose altitude rapidly, strengthening theories of a catastrophic problem in the first moments after liftoff.
- The crash site’s proximity to a busy residential area made rescue both urgent and hazardous, with firefighters maneuvering through twisted metal and rubble.
Though questions remain, officials are racing to piece together what caused the country’s deadliest aviation disaster in recent memory. Survivors and families face a long road, and the city of Ahmedabad will feel the impact of this tragedy for years to come.
