Story so far: Air India’s Boeing 787 aircraft (AI 171) which took off from Ahmedabad to London on Thursday (June 12, 2025), crashed minutes after taking off in the outside perimeter of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, stated the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Carrying 242 people on board, the pilots gave a ‘May day’ call to the air traffic control (ATC) before going non-responsive and crashing into a medical college in Meghaninagar area. Over 200 bodies have been recovered and rescue operations are under way. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the victims.
From Charkhi Dadri to Air India Ahmedabad-London plane crash: India’s worst aviation disasters
Snags in the Boeing 787 aircraft have been reported several times in the last few months across the world. Five incidents of issues with engines, gears, flaps, loss of cabin pressure and altitude were reported in Boeing 787 aircraft this year, according to AeroInside. Air India itself has faced issues with this aircraft for over a decade, the most recent on December 13, 2024. While travelling from New Delhi to Birmingham, flight AI-113 reported a hydraulic leak in the nose gear during its final approach to Birmingham’s runway 15. On landing, the aircraft was towed away and grounded for 28 hours.
