Tragedy in the Skies: Air India Flight AI171 Crashes Shortly After Takeoff from Ahmedabad, Killing 246 with One Miraculous Survivor
In one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent Indian history, Air India Flight AI171—a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick—crashed just minutes after departing from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on June 12, 2025. The aircraft was carrying approximately 242 passengers and crew members when it plummeted into a densely populated residential area near the airport, claiming at least 246 lives in total, including victims on the ground.
Social media erupted almost immediately with posts screaming headlines like “RIGHT NOW, PLANE WITH MORE THAN 244 ONBOARD JUST CRASH… See more,” capturing the shock and urgency of a nation—and the world—watching in horror as black smoke billowed over Meghani Nagar. Videos and images shared widely showed plumes of fire and emergency crews rushing to the scene. What began as a routine international departure turned into a catastrophe that has left families shattered, investigators scrambling, and aviation experts questioning what went wrong.
