Ahmedabad, India – A London-bound Air India flight crashed into a residential area in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad on Thursday, June 12, 2025, resulting in the deaths of at least 265 people. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had just taken off when it went down, killing nearly all passengers and crew on board, along with residents on the ground. One person survived and is currently receiving medical treatment.
The aircraft, carrying 242 passengers and crew, struck a medical staff hostel shortly after takeoff, igniting a fire that spread rapidly through the building. Emergency services arrived swiftly, with rescue teams working overnight to recover bodies from the wreckage. A formal investigation into the cause of the accident has been initiated by the Indian authorities.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that a mayday call was issued moments before the aircraft crashed. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and devastation. A local resident, Poonam Patni, recounted seeing bodies at the site while emergency responders battled the flames. According to hospital sources, 265 bodies have been received so far, suggesting the toll includes both passengers and individuals on the ground.
The lone survivor has been identified as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national of Indian origin. Speaking to reporters, India’s Home Minister said he had personally met the survivor, who was reportedly seated near the middle of the aircraft. Family members told British media outlets that he has no memory of how he escaped the wreckage.
Of those aboard the aircraft, Air India confirmed the presence of 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. Two pilots and ten cabin crew were also among the deceased. The plane was en route to Gatwick Airport in London.
Authorities from the United Kingdom and the United States have dispatched air accident investigators to assist the Indian inquiry. Boeing, the US manufacturer of the aircraft, said it is cooperating fully with investigators. The crash marks the first fatal incident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Tata Group, which owns Air India, announced compensation of 10 million rupees (approximately $117,000) to the families of each deceased victim and pledged support for medical treatment of the injured.
Experts have urged caution in speculating on the cause of the crash. Jason Knight, a lecturer in fluid mechanics at the University of Portsmouth, noted that a dual engine failure, possibly due to a bird strike, could not be ruled out. “The aircraft is designed to fly with one engine. A simultaneous failure of both engines is rare but can occur under specific conditions,” he said.
India has experienced several serious aviation accidents in past decades, including a 1996 mid-air collision over New Delhi and a 2010 crash in Mangalore. Despite this, the country’s aviation sector has expanded rapidly, with the International Air Transport Association recently describing its growth as “phenomenal”. India is currently the world’s fourth-largest air travel market and is expected to become the third-largest within the next ten years.
Senior Indian officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, expressed condolences. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III also shared messages of grief. Several public figures and aviation officials visited the site and hospitals to meet rescue workers and victims’ families.
