Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers and crew, tragically crashed near Ahmedabad on Thursday, June 12, 2025, shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The flight, bound for London’s Gatwick International Airport, took off at 1:17 PM local time and went down within minutes. The devastating incident resulted in the loss of 241 lives, with only one known survivor.

Among the 242 individuals on board were two pilots, 10 cabin crew, 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. The sole survivor identified so far is 40-year-old British national, Ramesh Viswashkumar, who was seated in passenger seat number 11A. He was returning to the UK after visiting family in India; tragically, his brother, Ajay Kumar Ramesh (45), did not survive the crash. The flight was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar.

Witnesses reported seeing thick plumes of black smoke rising from the crash site near Meghani Nagar, a densely populated area adjacent to the airport. US President Donald Trump, commenting on the incident, stated that the plane “looked like it was flying pretty well” but that it appeared the “engines maybe lost power.” Emergency response teams, including fire brigades and ambulances, were immediately dispatched to the scene, highlighting the swift action of Indian authorities.

The international community has extended its condolences following the disaster. President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria expressed deep sorrow to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government, and the people of India, offering prayers for the victims’ families and the injured. President Tinubu also commiserated with the leaders of Great Britain, Portugal, and Canada for the loss of their nationals, emphasizing the “fragility of life and the common bond of humanity.” Similarly, US President Donald Trump offered his condolences and American assistance to India during this difficult time.

Investigations into the cause of the crash are underway, led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and Air India officials. While the exact reason remains unconfirmed, experts and senior wide-body pilots have speculated that engine failure or a bird strike soon after takeoff could have been contributing factors. Videos of the accident reportedly show the engines failing to gain sufficient thrust during takeoff, leading to the plane crashing into buildings in a residential area. Air India has issued a statement acknowledging the incident and confirmed they are ascertaining details and will provide updates. This incident marks the first major crash involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.