**Tragedy Strikes as Air India Flight Crashes Moments After Take-off in Ahmedabad**
A devastating air disaster unfolded on Thursday, 12 June 2025, when an Air India flight en route to London Gatwick crashed within minutes of departure from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad. The aircraft was understood to be carrying 242 people at the time of the incident, prompting a massive emergency response in the western Indian city.
The ill-fated flight’s abrupt loss of communication with air traffic control occurred less than a minute after take-off. Air traffic officials at Ahmedabad confirmed the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner departed at 1:39pm local time (9:09am BST), bound for Gatwick, but soon after issued a distress “mayday” call, signalling a grave emergency. Flightradar24, a live flight tracking service, indicated that contact with the aircraft was terminated at an altitude of just 625 feet, a chillingly short window after the plane became airborne.
Eyewitness videos circulating on social media captured haunting scenes: thick, dark columns of smoke rising from the Meghani neighbourhood, where witnesses confirm the aircraft crashed into a residential building used as a hostel for medical professionals and students. Local outlets, including the Times of India, reported that this building, commonly known as a “doctor’s hostel”, bore the brunt of the catastrophic crash.
As the immediate aftermath unfolded, emergency responders raced to the crash site and have since been engaged in recovery and rescue operations, sifting through the remains of the charred wreckage. While the full extent of casualties and injuries remains uncertain, preliminary local reports suggest that at least 30 bodies have been recovered from the scene, though this figure is yet to be officially confirmed by authorities.
Air India released a statement describing the event as a “tragic accident” and has provided initial details regarding the nationalities of those on board. Of the 242 passengers and crew, 169 were reported to be Indian nationals, with 53 hailing from the United Kingdom. Additionally, one Canadian and seven Portuguese citizens were listed among the passengers, reflecting the international nature of the flight’s manifest.
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad is among the busiest in Gujarat, a state that holds particular national significance as the home region of India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. The airport itself is named after Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the country’s first Deputy Prime Minister and a key figure in India’s modern history.
Aviation authorities have begun an investigation into the crash, seeking to piece together evidence from the flight data recorder, cockpit voice recorder, and eyewitness accounts. The sudden, unexplained loss of signal and the rapid descent into a densely populated area are likely to be central to the inquiry’s initial focus. Aviation experts and the broader international community will be keenly following progress on the investigation, given both the severity of the tragedy and the global reach of the airline’s passenger base.
This incident has cast a sombre shadow across both the region and the international aviation community. Messages of condolence and offers of support have begun pouring in from governments and officials worldwide, as families, friends, and colleagues await further news and search for answers.
As India and the rest of the world come to terms with the enormity of this aviation tragedy, questions abound about the circumstances leading up to the disaster. For now, the priority remains supporting those affected and ensuring a thorough and transparent inquiry into the crash—an event that will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions throughout the aviation sector and beyond.