Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner erupts in flames as rescue teams race against time
A packed Air India passenger jet bound for London has crashed in a horrifying disaster at an Indian airport this afternoon, sending a massive plume of thick black smoke billowing into the sky as emergency crews rushed to the burning wreckage.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people on flight AI171 to London Gatwick, went down near Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at approximately 1:55 PM local time on Thursday, sparking a desperate rescue operation.
Shocking footage from the scene shows enormous clouds of dark smoke rising from the crash site in the Meghani Nagar area, just meters from the airport perimeter, as sirens wailed and dozens of ambulances raced to the disaster zone.
PASSENGERS PULLED FROM BURNING WRECKAGE
In heart-stopping scenes, injured passengers were seen being rushed from the crash site on stretchers as more than two dozen ambulances ferried victims to nearby hospitals. The extent of casualties remains unclear as rescue teams battle to reach survivors.
Injured passengers are being rushed to the nearby hospital following the plane crash,” according to reports from the scene, with dramatic footage showing emergency workers carrying victims away from the burning aircraft.
The state-of-the-art Boeing 787-8, registered as VT-ANB, was scheduled to depart at 1:10 PM for the nine-hour flight to London when disaster struck shortly after takeoff.
GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES EMERGENCY RESPONSE
India’s Home Minister Amit Shah immediately contacted Gujarat’s Chief Minister and top police officials as the scale of the catastrophe became clear, with the central government pledging full support for rescue efforts.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to the Gujarat Chief Minister, Home Minister and the Police Commissioner regarding the plane crash. He also assured to provide Central government assistance,” officials confirmed.
The Prime Minister’s Office has demanded a full passenger manifest as fears grow for those aboard the doomed flight.
FIRE CREWS BATTLE INFERNO
Fire officer Jayesh Khadia confirmed that “The plane caught fire after crashing and fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the blaze.
Multiple fire engines were seen racing to the crash site as the aircraft burned, with crews desperately trying to control the inferno that erupted when the fuel-laden jet went down.
A plane crashed in the Meghaninagar area near the airport. It is not yet clear what type of plane it was,” Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik told reporters at the scene.
AIRLINE CONFIRMS ‘INCIDENT’
Air India released a terse statement acknowledging the disaster: “Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest on airindia.com and on our X handle.
The airline has not confirmed casualties or provided details about what caused the crash.
DEBRIS SCATTERED ACROSS CRASH ZONE
Eyewitnesses reported seeing debris scattered across the Meghani Nagar residential area where the aircraft came down, with some reports suggesting the plane may have struck the airport’s perimeter wall.
The crash site, perilously close to residential buildings, sent shockwaves through the local community as residents fled their homes fearing explosions from the burning jet fuel.
VIP PASSENGER FEARS
Unconfirmed reports suggested that former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani may have been among the passengers, though this has not been verified by authorities.
The flight typically carries a mix of business travelers, tourists, and Indian nationals visiting family in the UK, with London Gatwick being a popular destination from Ahmedabad.
INVESTIGATION TEAMS MOBILIZED
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has dispatched an emergency investigation team from Delhi to determine what caused the modern aircraft to crash.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is considered one of the safest aircraft in commercial aviation, making the disaster even more shocking for aviation experts.
FAMILIES’ AGONIZING WAIT
Distraught relatives gathered at both Ahmedabad airport and London Gatwick as news of the crash spread, desperately seeking information about their loved ones.
Air India has yet to release a passenger list or confirm the nationalities of those on board, though the London route typically carries a significant number of British nationals and Indian expatriates.
RESCUE OPERATION CONTINUES
As night falls, rescue teams continue their desperate search through the wreckage, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams now at the scene.
The death toll remains unconfirmed as authorities focus on rescue efforts rather than recovery, with officials warning it could be hours before the full scale of the tragedy becomes clear.
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[…] confirmed the worst fears of grieving families worldwide – there are NO survivors from the Air India passenger jet that crashed in western India earlier today, killing all 242 people on board including […]
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