Air India 787 Crashes Near Ahmedabad, 242 Onboard

An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner (Flight AI171), carrying 242 people including 12 crew, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, 2025, en route to London Gatwick. The crash occurred near the Meghani Nagar area, with eyewitnesses describing a fireball and thick black smoke. Emergency services, including fire brigades and ambulances, responded quickly and began rescuing and transporting injured passengers to local hospitals, though casualty figures remain unconfirmed. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is feared to have been among the passengers, pending official confirmation. Images and videos of the devastation are widely circulating on social media, increasing public concern over flight safety. Investigations by India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau are underway, as both national and local leaders pledge coordinated support.