Update on Air India crash near Ahmedabad: No survivors among the 242 on board, officials say

A tragic Air India crash near Ahmedabad on Thursday, June 12, 2025, has left no survivors among the 242 people on board a flight bound for London, according to the city’s police commissioner.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner went down shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport, engulfing the Meghaninagar residential area in flames.

The aircraft, operating as Flight 171 to London Gatwick, took off at 1:39 p.m. local time (08:09 GMT) from runway 23.

Shortly after departure, it issued a mayday signal and then lost all contact with air traffic control. Minutes later, the jet crashed into a densely populated area, sparking a massive explosion.

Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Gyanendra Singh Malik confirmed the grim outcome: “It appears there are no survivors in the plane crash.”

He added that casualties were not limited to those on the aircraft, as the crash site included a hostel for medical students and doctors.

Local reports indicated the plane struck the dining hall of BJ Medical College’s state-run hostel, killing numerous students.

According to police, over 100 bodies have already been transferred to a government hospital for autopsy.

Among the victims were 217 adult passengers, 11 children, and two infants.

The flight crew included two pilots and 10 cabin crew members.

Air India later released the passenger breakdown, stating 169 were Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.

Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran called the incident a “tragic accident” and confirmed that support services for grieving families had been established.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), he expressed his condolences: “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event.”

He further assured the public that Air India is working closely with emergency responders and providing support to the affected families.

Eyewitnesses captured harrowing footage of the crash.

Videos shared with local media showed the aircraft flying low over a residential neighborhood before erupting into a fireball upon impact.

The aftermath revealed scenes of chaos, thick smoke, charred buildings, and firefighters battling flames in debris-strewn streets.

Parts of the aircraft’s tail, fuselage, and landing gear were visibly embedded in the wreckage of the hostel.

A senior police official told reporters that approximately 70% to 80% of the crash site had been cleared and efforts were underway to secure the remaining area.

Authorities are also working to identify victims and support displaced residents.

India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, confirmed that emergency response units had been dispatched to the site.

In a post on X, he stated that efforts were ongoing to provide medical treatment and disaster relief to those affected.

Local residents described scenes of horror.

Poonam Patni told Agence France-Presse that when she arrived at the scene, “there were several bodies lying around and firefighters were dousing the flames.

Many of the bodies were burned.”

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “We saw people from the building jumping from the second and third floors to save themselves.

“The plane was in flames. We helped people get out of the building and sent the injured to the hospital.”

The crash has also drawn international concern.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a statement expressing sorrow, saying: “The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating.”

The crash has sparked widespread mourning both in India and abroad, and raised urgent questions about flight safety and residential zoning near major airports.

Investigations into the cause of the crash are expected to begin immediately, with support from Indian and international aviation authorities.

As search and recovery operations continue, the country mourns what is now one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent Indian history.

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