{"id":53833,"date":"2025-06-12T16:13:53","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T10:43:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/12\/air-india-787-crash-in-ahmedabad-rescue-underway-investigation-launched\/"},"modified":"2025-06-12T16:13:53","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T10:43:53","slug":"air-india-787-crash-in-ahmedabad-rescue-underway-investigation-launched","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/12\/air-india-787-crash-in-ahmedabad-rescue-underway-investigation-launched\/","title":{"rendered":"Air India 787 Crash in Ahmedabad: Rescue Underway, Investigation Launched"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p><b>Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 In a heart\u2011stopping incident today, an Air India Boeing 787\u20118 Dreamliner (Flight AI\u202f171) bound for London Gatwick tragically crashed into a residential area near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport moments after takeoff. The aircraft, which carried 230 passengers and 12 crew, transmitted a Mayday call at approximately 1:38\u202fp.m. IST before communication abruptly ceased. Eyewitnesses reported heavy black smoke rising from the Meghani Nagar neighbourhood as the aircraft fell outside the airport perimeter.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1f6a8.png\" alt=\"\ud83d\udea8\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em; max-height: 1em;\">Ministry of Civil Aviation (<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MoCA_GoI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@MoCA_GoI<\/a>) has activated an Operational Control Room to coordinate all updates related to the AI171 crash<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1f4de.png\" alt=\"\ud83d\udcde\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em; max-height: 1em;\"> For assistance, contact:<\/p>\n<p>011-24610843<br \/>\n9650391859<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MIB_India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@MIB_India<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 PIB India (@PIB_India) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PIB_India\/status\/1933110216507441661?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">June 12, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong>Operational Control room activated, helpline numbers<\/strong><br \/>\nIn light of the AI171 crash, an Operational Control Room has been activated at the Ministry of Civil Aviation to coordinate all details.<\/p>\n<p><em>Contact: 011-24610843 | 9650391859<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Dedicated hotline number<\/strong><br \/>\nThey have also set up a dedicated passenger hotline number <em>1800 5691 444<\/em> to provide more information.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3><b>The Flight, Its People, and Immediate Reactions<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flight AI\u202f171 departed from Ahmedabad\u2019s Runway\u202f23. On board were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese. Captain Sumeet\u202fSabharwal, with over 8,200 flying hours, commanded the flight alongside co-pilot Clive Kunder, who had 1,100 hours, a crew well-versed in Dreamliner operations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Within a minute of takeoff, tracking showed the plane had reached just 625 feet before its signal vanished; an abrupt, singular descent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Senior leaders responded swiftly:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Air India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> acknowledged the incident on X (formerly Twitter), stating an emergency operations centre was activated, with a dedicated hotline launched for families.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> confirmed that all available resources had been mobilised and rescue teams are on high alert.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> issued wartime rescue instructions, establishing green corridors, ensuring medical priority, and coordinating with NDRF as directed by Home Minister Amit Shah.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other political figures and the U.K. government offered heartfelt support:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>UK Commons Leader Lucy Powell<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> pledged full support and expressed sympathy to families awaiting news in the UK.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>On-Ground Rescue: Heroic Response<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ahmedabad\u2019s Police Commissioner GS Malik confirmed the crash occurred in Meghani Nagar. Fire authorities swiftly deployed engines to extinguish the blaze, while ambulances navigated cleared \u201cgreen corridors\u201d to reach the scene.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than seven fire tenders, along with medical and police personnel, converged quickly to respond. Eyewitness footage captured scenes of debris, fire, and injured individuals being evacuated on stretchers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Airport authorities temporarily shut down all operations; flights in and out of Ahmedabad remain halted pending safety assessments.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>A Historic High-Altitude Tragedy<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This marks the first-ever hull loss of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which entered service in 2009 and is known for its advanced safety features.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Reuters, among those aboard were 217 adults and 11 children, heightening concern for families awaiting updates.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Air India\u2019s chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, conveyed deep condolences and emphasised the airline\u2019s commitment to support, with emergency centres active and close assistance being provided to families.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>What Lies Ahead: Investigation, Support, and Solidarity<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Multiple agencies, the DGCA, Air India, and AAIB, have launched thorough investigations into what went tragically wrong during takeoff. The aircraft was reportedly fully fuelled for its long-haul journey to London, likely intensifying the post-crash fire.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For families and concerned citizens, a round-the-clock toll-free Helpline\u202f<strong>1800\u202f5691\u202f444<\/strong> and the Air India \u201chelp centre\u201d are operational. Hospital coordination is ongoing as emergency services continue treating injuries. This incident has united hearts across nations. India, the UK, Canada, and Portugal have all offered condolences and pledges of assistance, underscoring international solidarity in the face of tragedy.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Air India Ahmedabad crash<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has shaken the aviation industry and struck a deeply emotional chord across India and abroad. With rescue operations in full swing and investigations underway, the country stands united in urgency and compassion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_48209\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-48209\" style=\"width: 740px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-48209\" src=\"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Amit-Shah-Tweet.png\" alt=\"Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweets - PNN News\" width=\"740\" height=\"303\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-48209\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tweets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All flight operations at Ahmedabad airport are suspended until further notice. Families are urged to use the dedicated hotline and official Air India channels for guidance. As the AAIB and DGCA piece together cause and accountability, the nation prays for clarity, closure, and, above all, comfort for those whose lives were caught up in this tragedy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The focus remains firmly on emergency response, truth-finding, and unwavering support for every passenger and loved one affected.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pnndigital.com\/category\/news\/\"><strong>PNN News<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025 \u2013 In a heart\u2011stopping incident today, an Air India Boeing 787\u20118 Dreamliner (Flight AI\u202f171) bound for London Gatwick tragically crashed into a residential area near Sardar [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":53834,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_rishi_post_view_count":164},"categories":[5],"tags":[677],"class_list":["post-53833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","tag-national","rishi-post"],"rishi__cb_customizer_meta":"","comments_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53833"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53833\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}