Remains of the crashed Air India plane lie on a building, in Ahmedabad, Friday, June 13, 2025. A London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 passengers crashed moments after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday.
Credit: PTI Photo
The Ahmedabad Air India plane crash that has claimed 241 lives has sent shockwaves around the world. PM Narendra Modi visited the site on Friday morning to take stock of the situation. Condolences have been pouring in across all quarters in the wake of the tragedy.
Here we take a look at all we know regarding the accident so far:
What happened? Where?
Air India flight AI-171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on June 12, 2025, was involved in an accident, it said in a statement.
The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft had departed from Ahmedabad at 1:38 pm, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew.
The pilot of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner issued a 'Mayday' distress call, denoting a full emergency, soon after takeoff, the Air Traffic Control at Ahmedabad said.
In a video recorded by a resident, the twin-engine wide bodied aircraft could be seen losing altitude rapidly and crashing in a ball of fire that sent plumes of thick black smoke spiralling up in the air.
Who was the sole survivor?
In a miraculous escape, a 40-year-old British national survived the deadly Air India plane crash soon after it took off in Ahmedabad.
Authorities said all passengers passed away except Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, who was initially identified as a passenger seated at '11A'.
Medical officials at Asarwa civil hospital said that Ramesh miraculously came out nearly unhurt after the crash and survived with impact injuries in his chest. In the hospital where the relatives were desperately searching for their loved ones, Ramesh was giving interviews to reporters while also asking for help to look for his brother Ashok.
How many on board?
According to Air India, of the 230 passengers, 169 were Indians, 53 British, seven Portuguese and one Canadian.
There were also 10 crew members and two pilots on board.
What was the aircraft model that crash?
The aircraft involved in the accident was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. This was the first major crash of the aircraft, which has been in operation since 2011.
What did PM Modi say?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that the plane crash tragedy in Ahmedabad has left everyone devastated, saying the loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words.
Modi posted his message of grief and condolence on X as he visited the crash site and met the injured being treated.
He said, "We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words. Condolences to all the bereaved families."
He added, "We understand their pain and also know that the void left behind will be felt for years to come. Om Shanti."
What did Air India say?
"We regret to inform that of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities," the airline said in a statement issued late Thursday.
Air India said it offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased.
"Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected, their families and loved ones," the airline said.
A team of caregivers from Air India is now in Ahmedabad to provide additional support, it added.
It also said that the airline is giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident.
What is the compensation Tata Group announced?
Tata Group has decided to prove Rs one crore to the families of each person who lost their lives in the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad as the primary focus now is to support the affected people and their families.
“We are deeply anguished by the tragic event involving Air India flight 171 operating operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick. No words can adequately express the grief we feel at this moment. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones, and with those who have been injured,” said N Chandrasekaran, the Chairman of Tata Sons, the flagship company of the Tata Group, which also owns Air India.
What are some of the deadliest Indian air crashes?
7 August, 2020: Air India Express Dubai-Kozhikode flight overshoots the runway on landing at Calicut International Airport; 18 killed, 172 survived
22 May, 2010: Air India Express Dubai-Mangalore flight overshoots runway on landing at Mangalore International Airport; 158 killed, 8 survivors
17 July, 2000: Alliance Air Flight 7412 crashes in a residential estate of Patna; 55 people aboard and 5 on the ground killed
12 November, 1996: Mid-air collision of flights of Saudi Arabian Airlines and Kazakhstan Airlines at Charkhi Dadri; All 349 people on board both planes killed
Who were the crew on board?
Majority of the crew members of the ill-fated Air India’s state-of-the-art Dreamliner commercial jet including the two pilots stayed in the financial capital of Mumbai - one of the busiest aviation hubs.
The two-member technical crew - Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain (LTC), had 8,200 hours of flying experience while he was assisted by First Officer Clive Kunder, who had logged 1,100 flying hours.
The other cabin crew members were Saineeta Chakravarti, Nganthoi Kongbrailatpam Sharma, Deepak Pathak, Maithili Patil, Irfan Shaikh, Lamnunthem Singson, Roshni Songhare Rajendra and Manisha Thapa.
How did world leaders react?
Leaders from all over the world have expressed their condolences in the wake of the crash.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and former Nepal prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda on Thursday expressed solidarity with the people of India.
President Vladimir Putin of Russia, US President Donald Trump, UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer, and others have also expressed their solidarity.
Helpline numbers
Disaster Management Cell in the Mantralaya, the state secretariat, released three helpline numbers - 022-22027990, 022-22794229 and 9321587143.
The civil aviation ministry on Thursday set up a control room to oversee and coordinate all necessary response measures in the wake of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.
For details, people can call 011-24610843, 9650391859.
A control room has also been set up in Ahmedabad and the numbers are 9978405304/079-23251900.
A helpline has also been activated at the Ahmedabad airport and the number is 9974111327.
Besides, Air India's dedicated passenger hotline number is 1800 5691 444.
"For assistance or information, kindly contact: (Delhi Control Room) 011-24610843/ 9650391859... Operation Control Room (Ahmedabad) 9978405304/ 079-23251900," Airports Authority of India (AAI) said in a post on X.
What we know about the investigation so far
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Thursday said a formal investigation has been initiated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), in line with international protocols set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
"Additionally, the government is constituting a high-level committee comprising experts from multiple disciplines to examine the matter in detail.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday said that a UK investigation team has been dispatched as part of the ongoing investigation into the London-bound Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad.
His statement came soon after a British agency that investigates civil aircraft accidents and serious incidents said it will be deploying a multidisciplinary investigation team to India to support the Indian-led investigation into the crash.
A US government agency that investigates civil aviation accidents said it will be leading a team of American investigators to India to assist in the investigation of the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in a post on X that it will be “leading a team of US investigators travelling to India to assist the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau with its investigation into the crash of an Air India Boeing 787 in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday.”
It added that as per international protocols under the International Civil Aviation Organization, all information on the investigation will be provided by the Government of India.
(With PTI, DHNS inputs)