A London-bound Air India flight carrying 242 people crashed shortly after takeoff near Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat on Thursday. The flight, AI171, was en route to London Gatwick. Footage from the accident is being circulated on social media as authorities step up rescue operations. All flights from Ahmedabad airport have been cancelled in the wake of the incident.
In a statement, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft went down soon after takeoff. The flight had 242 individuals onboard, including two pilots and ten cabin crew members. The aircraft was commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with First Officer Clive Kundar.
Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu is travelling to Ahmedabad to assess the situation. The Ministry of Civil Aviation said rescue and medical teams have been deployed at the crash site. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to the aviation minister to obtain an update and has instructed that all necessary assistance be provided to those affected, the ministry added.
“The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 13:38 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals. The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals,” Air India said on X, without adding details about the cause of the crash of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The Ahmedabad crash adds to the list of the worst aviation accidents India has witnessed in recent years. According to a database maintained by the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A) in Geneva, India has recorded about 80 aerial accidents — both civilian and military — since the 1990s. The database reports a total of 1,066 fatalities in these incidents. The worst accident, according to B3A, occurred on November 12 1996, resulting in 312 deaths.
Major Civil Plane Crashes in India
2020 – Kozhikode
Air India Express Flight IX-1344 from Dubai crashed on August 7 while landing in heavy rain at Kozhikode’s tabletop runway. The aircraft overshot the runway and fell into a gorge, killing 21 people, including both pilots.
2018 – Mumbai
A Beechcraft King Air on a test flight crashed in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area on June 28, killing all four onboard. The aircraft went down during bad weather and hit a construction site, possibly due to spatial disorientation and engine imbalance.
2010 – Mangalore
Air India Express Flight IX-812 from Dubai crashed on May 22 while landing at Mangalore airport. The plane overshot the runway and fell into a valley, resulting in 158 deaths. Only eight passengers survived.
2000 – Patna
Alliance Air Flight CD7412 crashed near Patna Airport on July 17 while attempting a go-around. The aircraft lost control due to an improper approach and stall, killing 60 people, including five on the ground.
1998 – Patna
Another crash occurred near Patna on July 17 when Alliance Air Flight 7412 lost control during a go-around and crashed into a residential area, killing 60 people.
1996 – Charkhi Dadri
On November 12, a mid-air collision between Saudi Arabian Airlines and Kazakhstan Airlines jets over Haryana killed all 349 onboard both aircraft. It remains the deadliest mid-air crash in history.
1993 – Aurangabad
Indian Airlines Flight 491 crashed on April 26 after hitting a truck that had strayed onto the runway during takeoff. The incident killed 55 people.
1990 – Bangalore
Indian Airlines Flight 605 crashed while landing at Bangalore on February 14 after descending too early. The crash killed 92 of the 146 onboard.
Global Aircraft Incidents
Over the past two years, Boeing and Airbus, two of the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers, have faced criticism over several significant aviation incidents.
In January 2024, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 suffered a mid-air door plug blowout, forcing an emergency landing, though no fatalities occurred.
In December 2024, Jeju Air Flight 2216, a Boeing 737‑800, crashed during landing in South Korea, killing 179 people.
In February 2023, a Boeing 737‑300 firefighting aircraft crashed in Australia, although both pilots survived.
In addition, there have been multiple emergency landings and technical failures involving Boeing 737, 757, 777, and 787 aircraft, prompting investigations and regulatory scrutiny. Last year, the company underwent a major leadership change amid mounting regulatory pressure in the US.
