Air India Flight 171 facts for kids
The tail of the plane stuck in the hostel building after the crash.
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| Accident summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 June 2025 |
| Summary | Crashed into a building after take-off; under investigation |
| Place | Hostel block, B. J. Medical College, Ahmedabad, India 23°03′16″N 72°36′44″E / 23.0545°N 72.6121°E |
| Passengers | 230 |
| Crew | 12 |
| Injuries (non-fatal) | 1 |
| Fatalities | 241 |
| Survivors | 1 |
VT-ANB, the plane in the accident, seen in December 2024. |
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| Aircraft type | Boeing 787–8 Dreamliner |
| Airline/user | Air India |
| Registration | VT-ANB |
| Flew from | Ahmedabad Airport, Ahmedabad, India |
| Flying to | Gatwick Airport, London, United Kingdom |
Air India Flight 171 was a scheduled flight from Ahmedabad, India, to London Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom. On June 12, 2025, the plane crashed about 30 seconds after taking off. It hit a student housing building at B. J. Medical College.
The plane, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, had 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Sadly, 241 people on the flight and 28 people on the ground lost their lives. One passenger survived the crash.
This was the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. It was also the first time one of these planes was damaged beyond repair.
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About the Flight and Aircraft
A Modern Plane on a Regular Route
The aircraft was an 11-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Its registration number was VT-ANB. The plane was built in Everett, Washington, and had two General Electric GEnx engines.
This was the first deadly crash for a Boeing 787 since the model was introduced in 2011. It was also Air India's first fatal crash since Air India Flight 182 in 1985. The accident is the deadliest involving a single plane in India's history.
Air India started flying from London's Gatwick airport in 2013. At the time of the crash, the airline had 12 flights a week leaving from Gatwick, including five to Ahmedabad.
Who Was on Board?
There were 242 people on the plane. This included 230 passengers, with 11 children and 2 infants. There were also 2 pilots and 10 flight attendants.
The passengers came from different countries. There were 169 Indians, 53 British citizens, 7 people from Portugal, and one person from Canada.
The flight was led by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar.
What Happened During the Crash?
Flight 171 took off from Ahmedabad Airport at 1:38 p.m. local time. The weather was clear and calm.
The plane's tracking system showed it reached an altitude of 625 feet before the signal was lost. The pilots sent a mayday call, which is a distress signal, to air traffic control.
The crash happened right after the plane took off. A video showed the aircraft climbing, then starting to go down. It crashed into a building, causing a large fire and smoke.
People nearby said they heard explosions. The plane hit a student housing building for a medical college. The tail of the plane was left resting on top of the building.
How Did Rescue Teams Respond?
The Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services quickly sent firefighters to the scene. In total, 337 firefighters, 60 fire trucks, and 20 water tankers were used. Many ambulances also rushed to the site.
Roads around the crash site were closed so rescue workers could get through. Fire teams from nearby cities and companies also came to help.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which provides security at the airport, was one of the first groups to arrive. The Indian Army, Border Security Force (BSF), and other national response teams also helped. They cleared away wreckage and helped the injured.
The fire was controlled in about an hour. The rescue work continued for five more hours. Heavy machinery was brought in to clear the debris.
The People Affected by the Crash
Police confirmed that at least 269 people died. This included 241 people from the plane and 28 people on the ground.
A 40-year-old British man was the only person to survive from the plane. He was sitting in seat 11A, next to an emergency exit. Doctors said he had many injuries but was in stable condition. His brother, who was also on the flight, did not survive.
Among the victims was Vijay Rupani, who was the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2016 to 2021.
At least 50 medical students in the building that was hit were taken to the hospital.
Finding Out Why the Crash Happened
The crash is being investigated by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Teams from the United Kingdom and the United States are also helping.
Investigators found the plane's black boxes. These devices record flight data and conversations in the cockpit. They will help experts understand what caused the crash.
India's main air travel safety group, the DGCA, and Air India have also started their own investigations.
How the World Reacted
In India
India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, expressed his sadness on social media. He visited the crash site and met with the survivor and others who were injured.
Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat's Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel coordinated the rescue efforts. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi also shared his condolences.
Around the World
- United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer, King Charles III, and Queen Camilla expressed their sorrow. The UK government sent teams to help in India.
- Canada: Prime Minister Mark Carney offered condolences, as one Canadian citizen was on the flight.
- Portugal: Prime Minister Luís Montenegro also expressed his sadness.
Companies Involved
Air India's chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, called the crash a "tragic accident." He said the airline's main focus was to support the victims and their families.
Boeing, the company that made the plane, said it was aware of the crash and would help investigators. GE Aerospace, which made the engines, also sent a team to help.
Tata Group, the company that owns Air India, announced it would give money to the families of the passengers who died. It also said it would cover the medical costs for those who were injured.
See also
In Spanish: Vuelo 171 de Air India para niños
