Air India plane carrying 242 passengers crashes minutes after departure VIDEO

Britain is working with Indian authorities to urgently establish the facts around the Air India plane crash and to provide support to those involved, the country's foreign office said in a statement posted on its website on June 12.

According to Air India, the nationalities of the passengers on board included: 169 Indians, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian.

Seems suspicious…??? pic.twitter.com/JhnNamFg2q

— IndiaWarMonitor (@IndiaWarMonitor) June 12, 2025

13:53

The aircraft went down in close proximity to the airport in the city of Ahmedabad, located in western India.

Footage released by Asian News International from the crash site of an Air India aircraft reveals the charred remnants of the plane, shrouded in a thick veil of smoke, as emergency responders and specialists carry out recovery and investigative operations amid the smouldering wreckage, Caliber.Az reports.

A senior executive editor with the Indian news network TV9, Aditya Raj Kaul,has posted a video on X account, claiming it shows an Air India Express plane crash.

India’s aviation regulator, DGCA, has rushed a team of investigators from Delhi to Ahmedabad following the crash of an Air India aircraft carrying 242 passengers near the city’s airport on June 12 afternoon.

In an official statement, DGCA said, "On 12th June, 2025, M/s Air India B787 Aircraft VT-ANB while operating flight AI-171 from (Ahmedabad to Gatwick) has crashed immediately after takeoff from Ahmedabad. There were 242 person on board the aircraft consisting of 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew. The aircraft was under the command of Capt Sumeet Sabharwal with First Officer Clive Kundar. Capt Sumeet Sabharwal is a LTC with 8200 Hrs of experience. The copilot had 1100Hrs of flying experience. "

The statement further read, "As per ATC, aircraft departed from Ahmadabad at 1339 IST (0809 UTC) from runway 23. It gave a MAYDAY Call to ATC, but thereafter no response was given by the aircraft to the calls made by ATC. Aircraft immediately after departure from Runway 23, fell on the ground outside the airport perimeter. Heavy black smoke was seen coming from the accident site."

The incident occurred in the Meghaninagar area, not far from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, and has been confirmed by the State Police Control Room.

“The plane caught fire after crashing, and fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the blaze,” said fire officer Jayesh Khadia.

Ahmedabad police commissioner GS Malik added: “A plane crashed in the Meghaninagar area near the airport. It is not yet clear what type of plane it was.”

Emergency services, including police and fire personnel, remain on the scene. Rescue operations are underway, and further details on casualties or the cause of the crash are awaited.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to lead the technical investigation into the crash.

13:16

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated by Air India crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, plunging into the Meghani area of the city and triggering a massive emergency response.

The aircraft was en route to London and was carrying 242 people at the time of the crash, Caliber.Az reports via Indian media.

Initial reports indicate that the wide-body Dreamliner had a seating capacity of around 300 passengers and was heavily fueled for the long-haul international journey, which significantly intensified the explosion and subsequent fire upon impact.

Watch LIVE Coverage: Plane Crash In Ahmedabad, Thick Smoke Seen In Area, Roads Closed https://t.co/kE0P5t3pD1

— NDTV (@ndtv) June 12, 2025

Eyewitnesses described a towering column of thick black smoke rising from the crash site, as emergency services rushed to the scene. Multiple fire engines and ambulances were deployed to carry out urgent rescue operations amid the flames and wreckage.

At this time, there is no official confirmation of the number of casualties. The situation on the ground remains fluid, and authorities are working to assess the full extent of damage and possible loss of life.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to launch a formal investigation into the crash. A technical team from Boeing may also be involved as part of the inquiry to determine the cause of the incident. No statements have yet been made regarding possible mechanical or procedural failures, though aviation experts have noted that the full fuel load required for the transcontinental flight could have significantly contributed to the severity of the post-crash fire, complicating rescue efforts.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reportedly spoken with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and Ahmedabad Police Commissioner regarding the incident. Shah assured that the Central government will extend all necessary support to state authorities for both the investigation and the emergency response in the aftermath of the crash.

By Tamilla Hasanova