BREAKING: Air India Plane Crashes After Takeoff, 241 Killed — One Survivor Confirmed

Ahmedabad, India — Tragedy struck today, June 12, 2025, as an Air India aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, killing 241 people onboard. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating Flight AI-171 bound for London Gatwick, went down just 30 seconds into its ascent, slamming into a hostel building at B.J. Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area of Ahmedabad.

According to early reports, the aircraft experienced engine failure moments after departure, prompting a mayday call from the pilot, identified as Captain Sumeet Sabharwal. Despite efforts to stabilize the aircraft, it lost altitude rapidly and crashed into the college building, igniting a massive fireball visible from miles away.

There were 242 individuals onboard — 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Authorities confirmed that only one person survived: a British-Indian man identified as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was seated near an emergency exit and managed to escape the wreckage before the plane was fully engulfed in flames. He is currently receiving treatment at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and is said to be in stable condition.

On the ground, the hostel building suffered significant damage, with at least five students confirmed dead and several more feared trapped in the rubble. Emergency teams have been working around the clock to locate survivors and recover remains.

The victims included citizens from multiple countries — 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. Among the deceased was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through both India and the global aviation community.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident “a national tragedy,” expressing condolences to the victims’ families and promising full government support in the rescue and investigation efforts. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III also offered sympathies, mourning the British lives lost.

Air India CEO Craig Wilson stated in a press briefing that the airline is cooperating fully with investigators and will prioritize support for the families of the victims. He described the crash as “a dark day in the history of Indian aviation.”

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India has launched a full-scale probe into the crash, with support from Boeing, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch. Preliminary observations indicate that the aircraft’s right engine may have failed and that the landing gear was still down during the takeoff sequence, raising questions about a possible mechanical or procedural fault.

This incident marks the deadliest aviation disaster in India in nearly three decades and is the first-ever fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft entered commercial service.

The airport briefly suspended operations but has since resumed on a limited basis. A somber atmosphere prevails in Ahmedabad as the nation mourns the loss of hundreds of lives.

More details will follow as the investigation continues.