Air India plane crashes near Ahmedabad Airport, 30 Dead; Here’s what we know so far
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Ahmedabad: A tragic air crash involving an Air India Boeing Dreamliner took place near the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon, killing at least 30 people and injuring several others. The flight, AI171, had departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 pm, bound for London Gatwick, but crashed within five minutes of takeoff in the Meghani Nagar area, a densely populated locality close to the airport.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft — identified as B787 VT-ANB — was carrying 242 people, including two pilots and ten cabin crew members. The flight was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with First Officer Clive Kunder as co-pilot. Visuals circulating on social media show a thick plume of smoke rising from the crash site, as emergency responders and local residents rushed to assist with rescue operations.
The crash site being close to residential buildings raised fears of greater casualties, though the full extent of the damage is still being assessed. Several of the injured have been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Air India confirmed the incident in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. We are in the process of gathering more information.”
Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu expressed deep shock over the crash. "We are on highest alert. Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to provide medical aid and relief at the crash site," he said, while confirming that he is personally monitoring the situation.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who rushed to Ahmedabad from Surat, directed officials to carry out rescue and relief operations on an urgent basis. He also announced the creation of a green corridor to speed up the transfer of injured passengers to hospitals. Patel said Union Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken to him and assured full central assistance.
Speaking to reporters, Amit Shah said he has spoken with the Gujarat Chief Minister, state Home Minister, and Ahmedabad Police Commissioner regarding the crash and assured that the central government will extend all necessary help.
Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran offered his condolences and said the airline is focused on supporting the affected families. “We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site,” he said, adding that an emergency centre has been activated for families seeking information.
Operations at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport have been temporarily suspended until further notice, an airport spokesperson confirmed.
London Gatwick Airport also issued a statement saying the flight was scheduled to land at 18:25 local time.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has dispatched the Director General of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) along with a team to Ahmedabad to begin a detailed investigation into the crash.
The exact cause of the incident is still unknown and will be determined after a thorough probe by the authorities.
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Tribals, Scheduled Castes preserved India's identity and soul despite foreign invasions: Bhagwat
Mumbai (PTI): RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that despite foreign invasions and hardships, tribal communities and Scheduled Castes preserved the country's identity and soul, stressing the need to integrate them into the mainstream development process.
He was speaking on Saturday at the Karmayogi awards ceremony in Mumbai, where Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari was also present.
"Human life is defined by giving back to the world, as we are all part of one great family. A person works and spends for the betterment of society, not as a favour, but out of duty. In serving others, we foster our own development. By helping others to thrive, we elevate ourselves and grow as human beings. This principle is the core value of this Indian land, commonly known as a Hindu society," Bhagwat said.
"This is the society's enduring ethos, which has survived for thousands of years. For various reasons, partly because of our indifference and partly because of foreign invasion, those who preserved this ethos paid a heavy price," he said.
The foreign invaders found that this ethos, this value system of the society is its soul and the key to keeping it alive. So they ensured that those who tried to preserve this soul would be uprooted and face extreme hardships, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief noted.
But despite foreign invasions and hardships, tribal communities and Scheduled Castes preserved the country's identity and its soul, he said.
"Despite such adversities, the country's core identity remained intact among tribal communities and those belonging to SC and ST groups," he said, emphasising the need to integrate them into the mainstream development process while ensuring they receive equal access to services and facilities.
Referring to global developments, Bhagwat said the present world is "stumbling forward" and struggling to maintain balance, and asserted that India could emerge as a stabilising force.
The country must not only safeguard its own interests but also extend support to the world, he said.
"The world should get to see that the country is not only solving its own misery and sorrow but also helping the world to address similar issues," he said.
The RSS chief stressed that service to society is not a favour but a duty that contributes to one's own development.
Helping others grow also elevates individuals and strengthens the collective fabric of society, he said.
The so-called educated and developed sections have, over time, distanced themselves from these communities, Bhagwat pointed out, and called for the need to bridge this gap.
The identities preserved by these communities represent the true identity of Indian society, he said and underlined that without identity, existence itself is at risk.
