An Air India plane bound for London with 244 people onboard crashed as it took off in India’s northwestern city of Ahmedabad. The police commissioner said there do not appear to have been any survivors. Latest updates by Newsweek indicated that:
- More than 100 bodies recovered from the crash site.
- The plane crashed into a residential area. It is not yet known if there are casualties on the ground.
- On board were: 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals.
- Flight AI171 was travelling from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick.
- The aircraft is a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
US ready to send aviation investigation team to assist Indian officials
The U.S. government says it is prepared to send a team of investigators to assist Indian officials after the Air India crash, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.
The FAA said that, if Indian officials request their assistance, they could provide technical report while the National Transportation Safety Board would be the main investigation team for the U.S.
The NTSB investigates the causes of about 450 international crashes every year.
While civilian plane crashes aboard Air India have been rare, the carrier does have a record of deadly incidents.
In 2020, an Air India Express—a subsidiary of Air India—with almost 200 passengers and crew skidded off a runway during heavy rain, killing 17.
In 2010, another Air India Express flight crashed in 2010 killing 158 people.
There were four other major crashes on flights operated by Indian Airlines, which later merged with Air India, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. While in 1978, an Air India crash killed 213.
King Charles III offers condolence in wake of the crash
King Charles III and Queen Camilla have offered their condolences in the wake of the deadly crash.
In a statement on Thursday morning, the British monarch said, “Our special prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected by this appallingly tragic incident across so many nations as they await news of their loved ones.”
Many medical students injured when plane hit doctors’ accommodation: Medical Association
Ahmedabad: Firefighting team at the spot after an Air India plane crashed moments after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (PTI via AP) AP
The Federation of All India Medical Association has said that many medical students were injured when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane crashed into the resident doctors’ hostel of BJ Medical College Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad.
In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, the Association said it was “deeply shocked” by the crash and was closely monitoring the situation and was ready to provide necessary help.
Images of the aftermath of the crash shows fire crews working to extinguish the blaze at the resident doctors’ accommodation.
Inside, photos show the canteen with food still on the table after residents abandoned it and fled during the crash.
Safety expert says crash is highly unusual
A safety expert has said the India Air crash appears to be highly unusual.
John McDermid, a computer science professor at the University of York with expertise in safety engineering, told Associated Press that jets have many backup systems, such as the ability to climb with only one engine, so it was surprising so many had failed within moments of takeoff.
“Pilots can abort takeoff until quite late,” McDermid said. “So, it seems like the problem occurred very suddenly in the final part of the takeoff roll, or shortly after takeoff, and was sufficiently serious to be unmanageable.”
Flights resume at Ahmadabad airport
Flights have resumed at Ahmedabad airport, the Indian civil aviation ministry has said.
“Flight safety protocols are being followed with utmost care,” the ministry said. (Newsweek)