Air India has confirmed 53 British nationals were on board the plane.

One of Air India’s Boeing 787-8 aircraft, reportedly operating as flight AI171 and bound for London Gatwick, crashed during takeoff at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Thursday, 12 June 2025, at approximately 01:17 PM IST.

The incident occurred near the Meghaninagar area, close to the airport. According to initial reports, the aircraft was carrying around 242 passengers, although some sources suggest the number may be closer to 133. Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising from the crash site, prompting a swift response from emergency teams, including fire brigades and rescue personnel.

Air India has confirmed that flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an accident shortly after takeoff today. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner departed Ahmedabad at 13:38 hrs with 242 people on board, including passengers and crew. Among them were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 1 Canadian national, and 7 Portuguese nationals.

Those injured are currently being transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. A dedicated passenger helpline has been established at 1800 5691 444 to provide updates and assistance to families and loved ones.

Air India is fully cooperating with the authorities conducting the investigation. Further official updates will be shared through the airline’s X (formerly Twitter) handle at https://x.com/airindia and on the official website: http://airindia.com.