…Prime Minister Modi, King Charles, UK Prime Minister, mourn
An Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, killing most of the 242 people on board. Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, went down minutes after departure, striking a doctors’ hostel and nearby buildings near B.J. Medical College.
Authorities report at least 204 confirmed deaths, with more feared dead on the ground. Only one survivor has been pulled from the wreckage. Victims include Indian, British, Portuguese, and Canadian nationals. The crash also killed several medical students and residents in the area.
The plane reached just 625 feet before losing contact with air traffic control. It is the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787. India’s Accident Investigation Bureau, along with UK and U.S. teams, is probing the cause.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the crash “heartbreaking.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III also expressed condolences. Air India and Boeing are cooperating with investigators.
This marks one of India’s worst aviation disasters in recent years and raises serious concerns about flight safety.
This devastating crash marks the first fatal accident involving the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a model known for its previously strong safety record. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft reached an altitude of only about 625 feet before losing contact with air traffic control. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), along with international investigators from the UK and the United States, have been deployed to determine what went wrong.
President Narendra Modi called the crash “heartbreaking” and offered his condolences to all families affected. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed deep sorrow, describing the event as “devastating”, and confirmed that the UK Foreign Office is coordinating with Indian authorities to assist with support and repatriation.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla also sent a message of sympathy, saying they were “desperately shocked” by the loss of life.
Air India and Boeing have pledged full cooperation with investigators and have expressed their condolences. The crash has sparked global concern about aviation safety and led to calls for a temporary review of Dreamliner operations in the region.
As India and the international community mourn this terrible loss, the focus remains on identifying all victims, supporting affected families, and uncovering the exact cause of one of the deadliest air disasters in recent Indian aviation history.
