Air India flight AI171 with destination to Gatwick in London, crashed on Thursday, shortly after take-off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad, is currently not operational, and all flight operations are temporarily suspended until further notice, the airport said.
Confirming the incident, Air India said that among the 242 passengers, 169 were Indians, 53 Britishers, seven Portugese and one Canadian national.
"Air India confirms that flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an accident today after take-off. The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hours, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals. The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals. We have also set up a dedicated passenger hotline number, 1800 5691 444, to provide more information. Air India is giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident," the Airlines said.
This tragic incident evokes memories of previous air disasters that have profoundly shaped India's aviation narrative.
In addition to these civilian disasters, India has also witnessed several military crashes.
On July 22, 2016, an Indian Air Force plane crashed in the Bay of Bengal, resulting in approximately 29 casualties. In 2019, another plane of the same design crashed in hilly terrain in Arunachal Pradesh after it lost contact with ground control, resulting in 13 casualties. In April 2025, A jaguar fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed during a training mission near Jamnagar Air Force Station, resulting in 1 casualty.