On June 12, 2025, tragedy struck when Air India Flight AI-171 crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew, was bound for London Gatwick. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal issued a desperate Mayday call—the internationally recognized distress signal—just moments before all communication with Air Traffic Control was lost.

The aircraft crashed into the densely populated Meghani Nagar neighborhood five minutes after takeoff, igniting a massive fire and causing extensive damage. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, but sadly, no survivors were found. The crash also severely affected people on the ground, including students at a nearby medical college, where multiple casualties and injuries were reported.

Flight tracking data revealed the plane’s brief but rapid climb to about 625 feet before all signals vanished, prompting investigators to closely examine the flight’s final moments and recover the flight recorders. This incident is the first recorded crash involving the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a widely used modern aircraft, raising urgent questions about safety.

The catastrophe sparked grief and condolences worldwide. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the event as heartbreaking, while King Charles III expressed his deepest sympathies. Relief operations are ongoing, with authorities and Air India providing support to the victims’ families. The investigation continues as the world mourns this devastating loss.