Ahmedabad, India – June 12, 2025:

An Air India flight bound for London tragically crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Wednesday morning, killing 241 people on board. The sole survivor, a British national, miraculously escaped by jumping from an emergency exit moments before the aircraft was engulfed in flames.

Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was carrying a total of 242 people, including passengers and crew. The aircraft failed to gain proper lift and crashed near a nearby medical college shortly after departing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

Graphic images and videos of the crash site, now widely circulated on social media, show scenes of devastation—twisted metal, scorched earth, and thick plumes of smoke.

Among the dead is former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani. The passenger list included 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, 7 Portuguese citizens, and 1 Canadian.

The sole survivor is being treated at a local hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.

Emergency services responded quickly, but the impact and ensuing fire left little chance for rescue. Investigators from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), along with Air India and international aviation experts, are now examining the cause of the crash. Preliminary reports suggest a possible technical failure, but officials say it is too early to draw conclusions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other national leaders have expressed their condolences. A moment of silence was observed in both Houses of Parliament.

This marks one of the worst aviation disasters in India’s history.