Tragedy struck India on the morning of June 12, 2025, when Air India flight AI171—a Boeing 787 Dreamliner—crashed just minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad en route to London. The crash, which killed dozens and left many others feared trapped, is the first fatal accident involving the Dreamliner, a model previously praised for its safety.
The plane was carrying 244 people—232 passengers, including 169 Indians and 53 British nationals, along with 12 crew members. Moments after liftoff, the aircraft issued a mayday call but lost contact with air traffic control at just 625 feet. Within five minutes, it had slammed into a densely populated residential area near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, crashing into the doctors’ hostel at B.J. Medical College.