Ahmedabad Plan Crash: Heartbreaking beyond words, says PM Modi

Ahmedabad Plan Crash: A London-bound Air India Flight AI171 crashed just minutes after takeoff on Thursday afternoon near Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the tragic plane crash. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the PM described the incident as "heartbreaking beyond words".

"The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected," PM Modi tweeted. 

The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2025

Ahmedabad Plan Crash: What happened?

Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane Flight AI-171, carrying 242 passengers, took off from Ahmedabad at 1.38 pm and crashed five minutes later into a residential locality in Meghani Nagar, just outside the airport perimeter. The crash resulted in thick black smoke engulfing the area and widespread panic among local residents.

Air India confirmed the crash on social media, stating: "Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, June 12, 2025. We are ascertaining details and will provide updates as soon as possible." 

Air India confirms that flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an accident today after take-off.

The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Of these, 169 are…

— Air India (@airindia) June 12, 2025

The flight was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a senior pilot with 8,200 flying hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft issued a “Mayday” call moments after takeoff, after which radio contact was lost. Initial assessments suggest the possibility of multiple bird hits leading to engine failure, but officials stress that a detailed investigation will determine the exact cause.

The DGCA, in an official statement, said: “The aircraft crashed into a residential area five minutes after takeoff. A team comprising Assistant Directors of Airworthiness and a Flight Operations Inspector were already present in Ahmedabad and are collecting information at the site.”

With the inputs of IANS