Air India Plane with 242 Crashes After Takeoff in Ahmedabad

Firefighters respond at the crash site of an airplane in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, on Thursday, June 12, 2025.

An Air India flight carrying 242 people crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday. The aircraft was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport. Authorities have yet to confirm the number of casualties.

The plane, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, went down in a civilian area near the airport just minutes after departure. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft flying low over residential buildings before a large explosion and thick black smoke filled the sky.

According to air traffic control, the aircraft departed from runway 23 at 1:39 p.m. local time (0809 GMT) and issued a "Mayday" distress call shortly after. Communication was lost moments later.

Air India confirmed the incident, stating that efforts are underway to gather details and provide further updates.

Footage from the scene showed burning debris scattered across a neighborhood, with emergency crews evacuating injured individuals and transporting them in ambulances. A large fire was visible, sending dark smoke plumes into the air.

Flight tracking data showed the last signal from the aircraft was received seconds after takeoff. The aircraft involved was identified as a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, registration VT-ANB. Boeing has not yet issued a statement.

This is the most serious aviation incident involving Air India since 2020, when an Air India Express aircraft skidded off a runway in Kozhikode, killing 21 people.

Rescue operations are ongoing, and investigations into the cause of the crash have begun.