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Here’s where things stand on Thursday 12 June 2025:
- A London-bound plane has crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad, western India
- Air India says: “Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today”
- The plane is understood to have been carrying more than 200 passengers
- Tracking website Flightradar24 says it received the last signal from the aircraft at 625 feet (190m) “just seconds after take off”
- It appears to have crashed in a residential area, our South Asia correspondent reports
Live Reporting
(14:47) Parts of plane scattered at crash site
We can now bring you more pictures from the residential area in Ahmedabad where the Air India plane crashed:
(14:40) At least 50 medical students taken to hospital
We’ve just heard from India’s Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), which says some 50 to 60 students studying medicine were taken to hospital after the Air India flight crashed into a doctors’ hostel.
The association says five students are missing, and at least two are in the intensive care unit.
Relatives of some doctors are also missing. According to FAIMA, most of the passengers on the flight were brought to hospital dead.
(14:31) King and Queen ‘desperately shocked’ by crash
We’ve just had an update from the King, who says he and Queen Camilla are “desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad this morning”.
“Our special prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected by this appallingly tragic incident across so many nations, as they await news of their loved ones.
“I would like to pay a particular tribute to the heroic efforts of the emergency services and all those providing help and support at this most heartbreaking and traumatic time.”
(14:27) Boeing says thoughts with all those affected
We’ve just had an updated statement through from Boeing – the company which manufactured the plane.
It says: “We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected.”
In its earlier statement, the company said it was working to gather more information.
(14:16) ‘We have lost a lot of people’ – Indian foreign ministry spokesperson
Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, at his weekly press briefing, calls the crash “a very tragic accident”.
“The rescue operations are on. We need to wait a little more time for exact details to be put out,” he says.
But he adds: “We have lost a lot of people. We extend our deepest condolences to all those who have lost their loved ones.”
(14:25) Some locals will have died – police chief
More from Ahmedabad’s police chief GS Malik, who earlier said there appear to be no survivors from the crash.
He also says that because the plane crashed in a residential area, “some locals would have also died”.
“Exact figures on casualties are being ascertained,” he says, according to AP.
(13:58) There appears to be no survivors, local police chief says
The police chief in Ahmedabad says there appears to be no survivors from the plane crash, according to reports from the AFP and AP news agencies.
(13:05) Crisis teams set up in India and the UK, Lammy says
The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) has arranged crisis teams in India and the UK, Foreign Secretary David Lammy says.
He tells the Commons: “My thoughts, and I’m sure those of the entire House, are with those who’ve been affected by the tragic plane crash in India this morning.
“We know that British nationals were on board and I can confirm that the FCDO is working urgently with local authorities to support British nationals and their families, and has stood up a crisis team in both Delhi and in London.”
(12:53) My son jumped from second floor of hostel as plane crashed, says mother
We are now beginning to hear from anxious relatives outside hospitals in Ahmedabad.
Poonam Patel, who is at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, tells news agency ANI that his sister-in-law was on the flight to London.
“Within an hour, I got the news that the plane had crashed. So I came here,” he says.
Ramila says her son had just gone into the doctors’ hostel for a lunch break when the plane crashed there.
She says he jumped from the second floor and suffered injuries, but is safe.
(12:41) Tragedy has stunned us, says Modi
We’re now hearing from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a post on X, he says: “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words.
“In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it.
“Have been in touch with ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected.”
(12:31) Where did the crash happen?
The Air India passenger plane crashed near the airport in Ahmedabad, western India.
The last signal was received seconds after take-off, according to Flight Radar, when the plane was at 625 feet (airport altitude is about 200 feet).
(12:25) Firefighters douse flames at crash site
The plane crashed in a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad – police say it came down on a doctors’ hostel.
(12:24) King Charles being kept updated
The King is being kept updated on the developing situation after the Gatwick-bound plane crashed, Buckingham Palace says.
(12:22) First time a Boeing 787 has come down like this
This Air India crash is the first time a Boeing 787 aircraft has come down like this.
The model was launched 14 years ago and just six weeks ago the US planemaker lauded the fact the model, also known as the Dreamliner, has reached the milestone of carrying 1 billion passengers.
To mark that occasion the company said the global 787 fleet of more than 1,175 airplanes has flown nearly 5 million flights covering more than 30 million flight hours.
The crash is a blow for the company which has been struggling to overcome a range of problems, including fatal crashes, with its 737 programmes.
It will be another test for CEO Kelly Ortberg who is about to mark his first anniversary in the job.
He was brought in to try and help Boeing sort out a range of problems that were raising questions about its future.
(12:18) First statement from Boeing
We’ve had an update from Boeing – as a reminder, the plane that crashed is a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
“We are aware of initial reports and are working to gather more information,” the statement says.
(12:17) The scenes are devastating, says Keir Starmer
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says his thoughts are with the passengers and families of those on the Air India flight, which was bound for London Gatwick and crashed in Ahmedabad.
He says: “The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating.
“I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time.”
(12:14) Plane crashed into doctors’ hostel, say police
A senior police officer in Ahmedabad tells ANI news agency that the London-bound plane crashed into a doctors’ hostel, an accommodation for local medical professionals.
He says police, firefighters and other civic workers reached the spot within minutes. Rescue operations are still under way.
(12:13) Visibility was clear and weather was stable when plane crashed
Weather conditions were stable and clear when the plane crashed, says flight safety expert Marco Chan.
Surface winds were light and visibility was six kilometres, according to the aviation weather forecast at the time, known as METAR.
Chan adds “there were no significant clouds or weather phenomena reported, with no indications of wind shear, storms, or other adverse conditions that might have contributed to the incident”.
(12:10) UK working with Indian authorities – Foreign Office
The UK Foreign Office says “the UK is working with local authorities in India to urgently establish the facts and provide support to those involved”.
British nationals who require consular assistance or have concerns about friends or family should call 020 7008 5000.
(12:08) What we know so far
It’s been just over an hour since we first reported an Air India plane crashed near the airport in Ahmedabad.
Here’s what we know so far:
- There were 242 people on board, including two pilots and 10 cabin crew
- Of the passengers, there were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals
- The plane – a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner – gave a mayday call to air traffic control after taking off, but then gave no response
- Signal was lost seconds after take-off when the plane had reached 625 feet (190m), according to Flight Radar
- The plane came down in a residential area near the airport
- “Everyone is running right now trying to save as many lives as possible,”
(12:02) Firefighters working through smoke on charred streets
We’ve now got more pictures from the scene in Ahmedabad:
(12:00) Everyone running to save as many lives as possible
The scene here is very shocking. Everyone is running right now trying to save as many lives as possible.
A rescue operation is going on at the spot very near to the airport.
Ambulances are all over the area. Roads are blocked.
Emergency response teams are still trying to extinguish a fire.
People say they heard a loud sound and watched black smoke coming out. Many people started to gather here. Volunteers in the nearby area are trying to help as much as they can.
The fire brigade officials then started the rescue operation. Bodies are still being taken from the area.
There has been no official confirmation about the crash or the number of casualties.
(11:58) 169 Indian nationals on board
Air India has now given the breakdown of the different nationalities on-board flight AI171.
There were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals on board.
The airline says the injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals.
(11:56) Fifty-three British nationals on board – Air India
Fifty-three British nationals were on board the flight bound for Gatwick airport, Air India says.
Details of other nationalities on board are still coming in.
(11:52) Aircraft gave mayday call, regulator says
We now have a statement from DGCA, India’s aviation regulator, which says the flight “crashed immediately after take-off from Ahmedabad”. The statement says:
- There were 242 people on board the aircraft, including two pilots and 10 cabin crew (an official earlier said there were 244 people on board)
- The captain had 8,200 hours of flying experience. The co-pilot had 1,100 hours of flying experience
- The aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 13:39 IST from runway 23
- It gave a mayday call to air traffic control, but thereafter no response was given by the aircraft
- After departure, the plane crashed outside the airport perimeter
(11:41) All flights suspended at Ahmedabad airport
A spokesperson from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad says the airport is currently not operational. All flight operations are suspended until further notice.
(11:34) 232 passengers and 12 crew members on board, official says
Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, chief of India’s directorate of civil aviation, tells the Associated Press the plane crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar.
There were 232 passengers and 12 crew members on board, he says.
(11:31) State minister orders rescue efforts on ‘war footing’
The Chief Minister of Gujarat – where Ahmedabad is state capital – says officials have been instructed to carry out “immediate rescue and relief operations” and to make arrangements on a “war footing”.
“I have also instructed officials to arrange a green corridor to transport the injured passengers for treatment and to ensure all necessary medical arrangements are made at the hospital on priority,” Bhupendra Patel writes on X, external.
(11:28) Flight to Gatwick involved in tragic accident – Air India chairman
In a statement posted on X, Air India’s chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, says “with profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today”.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event,” he says.
“At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families.
“We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted.
“Further updates will be shared as we receive more verified information. An emergency centre has been activated and support team have been set up for families seeking information.”
(11:26) First statement from Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport confirms the plane travelling from Ahmedabad was due to land at 18:25pm UK time.
In a statement on X, Gatwick Airport says: “We can confirm that flight AI171 that crashed on departure from Ahmedabad Airport today was due to land at London Gatwick at 18:25.”
First image from the scene
We are now getting images from the scene, showing black smoke billowing from the site of the crash.
We are on highest alert – minister
More now from Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, India’s aviation minister.
“We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action.
“Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site. My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families.”
Shocked and devastated, says India’s aviation minister
India’s Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu says he is “shocked and devastated” at the crash in Ahmedabad.
We’ll bring you more from his statement shortly.
Plane has capacity of 256, SeatGuru says
The aircraft that crashed is a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with registration VT-ANB, according to FlightRadar.
SeatGuru says the plane has a total of 256 seats onboard – it’s not known exactly how many of those were occupied.
It was scheduled to land at 18:25 at Gatwick.
The plane’s history shows it regularly flies between India and destinations including Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Amsterdam, and Melbourne.
What we know so far
- A passenger plane heading to London has crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad, western India
- More than 200 people are believed to be on board
- The plane appears to have crashed in a residential area
- Signal was lost seconds after take-off when the plane had reached 625 feet, according to Flight Radar
- India’s aviation minister says rescue teams have been mobilised
Plane crashed outside airport perimeter – reports
India’s aviation regulator says the aircraft crashed after take-off “outside the airport perimeter”, Reuters news agency reports.
Signal from aircraft lost at 625 feet – Flight Radar
More now from flight-tracking website Flight Radar, which earlier said the signal was lost seconds after take-off.
Flight Radar says the Air India flight was scheduled to fly from Ahmedabad International Airport to London Gatwick Airport at 09:50 local time. Its scheduled arrival time was 18:25 local time.
The signal was lost at 10:08 local time at 625 feet, less than a minute after take-off.
Rescue teams mobilised, aviation minister says
India’s aviation minister says “we are on highest alert”, as “rescue teams have been mobilised”.
More than 200 passengers believed to be on board
The plane is understood to have been carrying more than 200 passengers.
Flightradar24 says last signal received seconds after take off
The flight tracking website, Flight Radar, says on X: “We are following reports of a crash of Air India flight #AI171, external from Ahmedabad to London.
“We received the last signal from the aircraft at 08:08:51 UTC, just seconds after take off.”
Plane appears to have crashed in residential area
Video on social media shows black fumes billowing. It appears to have crashed in a residential area.
Air India says incident involving flight bound for London Gatwick
We’ve just had this from Air India on X: “Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025.
“At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest.”
Plane crashes near airport in Ahmedabad, India
A plane has crashed near the airport in Ahmedabad, western India.
There are reports the plane was heading to the UK – that has not been confirmed.
According to Reuters agency, who cite police, 242 passengers were on board the flight.
We’re continuing to gather information on this fast developing story, stay with us.