Tragedy has struck just minutes after takeoff in northwestern India, as an Air India passenger plane bound for London crashed into a residential area in Ahmedabad, with officials saying there appear to be no survivors.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew, went down only five minutes after leaving the airport at 1.38pm local time on 12 June 2025. Among those on board were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese.
Police Commissioner GS Malik confirmed the grim news, telling the Associated Press:
“It appears there are no survivors in the plane crash.”
He added that because the aircraft crashed into a populated area with offices and homes, there are likely casualties on the ground as well, though exact numbers are still being worked out.
Dramatic images from the scene showed thick black smoke billowing into the sky, with parts of the wreckage resting atop buildings.
India’s federal health minister, Jagat Prakash Nadda, said simply:
“Many people were killed in the crash.”
Air India chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran described the disaster as a “tragic accident” and assured that emergency teams were already at the site.
On the other side of the world, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his shock:
“The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in Ahmedabad are devastating.”
He added he was being kept closely updated as the situation develops.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that The King is also following the situation carefully.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his condolences on X (formerly Twitter):
“The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. My thoughts are with everyone affected.”
The crash marks a grim milestone, it’s the first ever recorded accident involving a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network.
Flight tracking service FlightRadar noted it lost contact with the plane shortly after takeoff.
Air India has stated they are still gathering details and will provide updates as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, London Gatwick airport has set up a reception centre for the relatives of those on board, working closely with Air India to offer support.
The UK Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) has established a dedicated hotline for those worried about friends and family: 020 7008 5000.
