June 12, 2025, will remain one of the most tragic days in the history of the aviation industry since Air India Flight AI-171 a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to the Gatwick Airport in London, crashed soon after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. It is one of the worst air disasters that happened in recent Indian aviation history, claiming 241 lives out of 242 people on board.
On that tragic Thursday afternoon, the plane, with passengers and members of the crew, boarded the plane and flew off at 1:38 PM. The scene became disastrous as, just within some seconds of takeoff, the Boeing 787-8 crashed into the B.J. Medical College hostel mess, some 5 kilometers away by the airport. The collision happened when more than 100 students were inside having lunch and the result was a scene of devastation never seen before, leaving the whole nation in shock.
According to eyewitnesses, there was a big explosion after which a high column of smoke emerged in the crash site. The crash was so hard that it totally damaged the aircraft and created a big damage on the infrastructure of the medical college. Emergency services were on the spot in a minute; however, the force of the collision did not give much chance to survive.
Some of the victims included the former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was a prominent political leader and his death has plunged the entire state into mourning. In Rajkot, where Rupani had lived for a long time, markets closed half a day on Saturday in respect of the dead leader. The tragedy has brought political leaders of different parties together, as Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that the whole nation should come together in this hour of distress.
Pilots of the doomed flight are said to have made a Mayday call right after takeoff saying that they were in a life-threatening situation.
Since the crash occurred, recovery operations have been in progress, and several agencies are working round the clock at the site. On Friday the investigators were able to retrieve the aircraft’s black box from the rooftop of the medical college hostel. Such an important piece of evidence should give very important details on the events that occurred before the crash and should assist in finding the precise cause of this aviation tragedy.
A special team of National Security Guard (NSG) has been deployed to help in the ongoing rescue and recovery operations. The number of those who died in the crash has been ranging between 241 as it was first announced, and 239 as the rescue teams continue with the tedious work at the crash site. Recently, it is alleged that the figure could be up to 279, although this is yet to be confirmed as DNA tests are still going on to ascertain the victims.
Prime minister Narendra Modi arrived at the crash site and took about 20 minutes to overview the destruction. He also visited injured victims at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, which showed that the government was willing to take care of the victims of this tragedy. The Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu will hold a media briefing where he will give official information on the investigation and the recovery operations.
The process of identification has not been easy because of the intensity of the crash. Forensic teams, both of Gujarat and central teams, are working round the clock, Carrying out DNA tests to identify victims. To help in this challenging process, family members have been giving DNA samples at the local hospitals. Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the Forensic Science Laboratory in the state is in touch with central government forensic scientists to speed up the procedure of identification.
Air India has announced its decision to change the flight number from AI-171 to AI-159 to avoid painful memories associated with this tragedy. This gesture reflects the airline’s sensitivity toward the families affected and the broader aviation community’s respect for those lost.
The investigation is being conducted by multiple agencies, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), whose officials are working alongside forensic experts to piece together the sequence of events that led to this catastrophe. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, once considered one of the safest aircraft in commercial aviation, is now under scrutiny as investigators work to determine whether mechanical failure, human error, or other factors contributed to the crash.
As the nation continues to mourn this devastating loss, questions about aviation safety protocols and emergency response procedures are being raised. The international aviation community is closely monitoring the investigation, as findings could have implications for Boeing 787 operations worldwide.
The Ahmedabad air crash serves as a stark reminder of the inherent risks in aviation and the importance of continuous safety improvements. As families await answers and the nation grieves, the focus remains on supporting survivors, identifying victims, and ensuring such tragedies are prevented in the future through enhanced safety measures and protocols.