Air India crash live updates: ‘No survivors expected’ 

By JAMIE BULLEN and ELENA SALVONI and LETTICE BROMOVSKY

Published: 10:23 BST, 12 June 2025 | Updated: 15:15 BST, 12 June 2025

An Air India flight bound for London Gatwick has crashed in Ahmedabad just minutes after take off with 242 people on board.

Indian police chiefs say it appears there are no survivors after flight 171 plummeted to the ground in the densely populated Meghani area where it struck a doctors’ hostel minutes after it departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

The airline confirmed there were 53 British nationals on the flight which was due to arrive in London at around 6.25pm.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the tragedy, one of the worst aviation disasters in Indian history, as ‘heartbreaking beyond words’ while Sir Keir Starmer and King Charles are receiving regular updates.

Live updates below 

Air India crash: Everything we know so far

If you’re just joining us, we have been reporting live updates from the Air India plane crash as flight 171 plummeted to the ground shortly after it departed Ahmedabad on its way to London Gatwick.

Air India has confirmed 242 people were on board the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft including 53 British nationals.

Police have said they do not expect there to be any survivors, with more deaths expected on the ground after the jet crashed into a hostel housing medical staff.

The crash is one of the worst aviation disasters in India’s history and emergency services are still at the scene.

Here’s what you need to know.

• Air India flight 171 crashed into a medical college in Meghani shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.17pm local time.
• The airline has confirmed the plane was carrying 230 passengers, two pilots and 10 crew members and added 53 of those on board are British nationals.
• Video appears to show the plane struggling to achieve lift before crashing to the ground with the pilot reportedly issuing a Mayday call shortly after taking off
• According to preliminary information, the plane reached approximately 825 feet when it suddenly descended
• A police chief in Ahmedabad said it appears there are no survivors in the crash
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the tragedy is ‘heartbreaking beyond words’ while Sir Keir Starmer and King Charles are receiving regular updates

Breaking:British man SURVIVES plane crash and is filmed walking away from site

Police said they had found a lone survivor who had been sitting in seat 11A when Flight 171 crashed shortly after takeoff in India this morning.

Astonishing footage showed the man walking away from the scene with some visible injuries to his face.

Breaking:British survivor walks away from Air India crash

A British man has miraculously survived the Air India plane disaster, with desperate rescue efforts still underway to find others.

Police said they had found a lone survivor who had been sitting in seat 11A when Flight 171 crashed shortly after takeoff in India this morning.

Astonishing footage showed the man walking away from the scene with some visible injuries to his face.

On the ground, police said they had discovered another survivor in the hospital struck by the plane as it came down in a residential area.

British couple feared to have been on doomed Air India flight

British celebrity wellness guru Jamie Meek and his husband posted a haunting video of themselves at the airport waiting to board the doomed Gatwick-bound Air India flight that crashed moments after it took off.

They are feared to be among the 242 vivctims who perished when the flight crashed just after takeoff from Ahmedabad bound for Gatwick.

Mr Meek, 45, and husband Fiongal Greenlaw, 39, who live in London, run a wellness and healthy lifestyle company called the Wellness Foundry, and had been in India on holiday.

They had appeared on ITV’s This Morning to promote their wellness brand.

In a chilling final social media video posted from Ahmedabad airport as they waited to board their doomed flight the couple were dressed in flowery shirts looking happy at the end of their break.

How the Air India passenger plane crash unfolded

Air India owners offer families of dead compensation

Tata Sons, which owns Air India, will offer around £86,000 to the families of each person who died in the Ahmedabad plane crash, the company said.

Breaking:Two survivors from plane crash found, police say

Two passengers on Air India flight 171 have been found, according to police.

One was at the crash site and another was receiving treatment in hospital, according to reports.

Pope ‘deeply saddened’ by crash and shares ‘heartfelt condolences’

Pope Leo XIV expressed his ‘heartfelt condolences’ Thursday to those who have lost loved ones in an air crash in India and prayers for those recovering the bodies of victims.

‘Deeply saddened by the tragedy involving an Air India aircraft near Ahmedabad, his Holiness Pope Leo XIV sends his heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives,’ the Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said in a telegram.

Leo also sent his ‘assurance of prayers for all involved in the recovery efforts’, Parolin said.

Relatives asked to give DNA samples

Reuters have reported brief remarks from state health secretary Dhananjay Dwivedi.

He has said relatives have been asked to give DNA samples to identify the dead.

The bodies that have been recovered include those on the plane and those in the area at the time of impact.

Breaking:Police chief says 204 bodies recovered

Ahmedabad’s police chief has told the BBC that 204 bodies have been recovered from the crash site.

It’s not known if all 204 were on the plane, or if some were on the ground when the plane crashed.

Pictured: Parts of the plane scattered on the ground

More than 200 confirmed dead, police say

More than 200 people have died in the Air India plane crash, Kanan Desai, a top city police officer, told Reuters.

The plane crashed into a doctor’s college residential quarters in Ahmedabad, where approximately 200 people are said to have been living.

Police earlier told reporters that all 242 people on board the plane had died, with more casualities expected on the ground.

At least 50 medical students taken to hospital

India’s Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has said that around 50 to 60 medical students 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.

Pictured: Suitcases are seen among the debris at the crash site

King and Queen ‘desperately shocked’ by Air India crash

King Charles has penned a message expressing his shock following the plane crash.

Boeing says it stands ready to support Air India

Boeing said in a statement:

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.

Air India cancels Gatwick flight tonight

An Air India flight from Gatwick Airport to Goa in India due to take off at 8.30pm on Thursday has been cancelled.

This comes amid the crash of a London-bound Air India flight with 242 passengers on board this morning.

No reason has been provided by Air India yet for the cancellation of the later flight from Gatwick.

The decision means that no Air India flights will arrive or depart from London Gatwick on Thursday.

Gatwick sets up reception centre for Air India passenger relatives

Media gathers gather outside the North terminal following the crash

Gatwick said a reception centre was being set up for relatives of passengers on board the doomed Air India flight.

In a statement posted on social media, it said:

We can confirm flight AI171 that was involved in an accident on departure from Ahmedabad Airport today (12 June) was due to land at London Gatwick at 18:25 BST.

London Gatwick is liaising closely with Air India and a reception centre for relatives of those on board is being set up where information and support will be provided.

British nationals who require consular assistance or have concerns about friends or family should call 020 7008 5000.

Air India have set up a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 to provide more information. Our thoughts are with family and friends of those on board.

‘Many bodies lying on the ground,’ eyewitness says

An eyewitness has told how there were ‘many bodies lying on the ground’ in the aftermath of the crash.

The man, who was not named, told reporters: ‘I was sitting at home, there was a loud noise, it felt like an earthquake.

‘I came out and saw smoke, I didn’t realise it was a plane crash, then I came here and I found out and I saw the crashed plane – there were many bodies lying on the ground.’

He wore a surgical mask as he spoke to the BBC at the site, with smoke seen billowing around him.

Pictured: Rescuers work at the crash site as police say there are ‘casualties on the ground’

Breaking:Police say there ‘appear to be no survivors’

Ahmedabad police chief has said it appears no-one has survived the crash.

‘It appears there are no survivors in the plane crash,’ Commissioner G.S. Malik told reporters.

He added that with the plane crashing in a residential area with offices, ‘some locals would have also died.’

‘Exact figures on casualties are being ascertained,’ he said.

Pictures: New pictures show wreckage of doomed Air India flight 171

New photographs show the wreckage of Air India flight 171 after it crashed into a doctors’ hostel in Meghani shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport.

Plane parts are among the debris as rescuers scramble to find the 242 people on board the plane with many said to be killed.

Watch: Moment airport passengers watched Air India plane crash

Footage has emerged of the moment passengers at Ahmedabad airport saw Air India flight 171 crash just before they themselves were about to board flights.

Video posted by Asian News International shows travellers walking to their gates before they catch sight of smoke billowing near the airport.

Another eyewitness, who was at the airport at the time of the crash, told the Times of India: ‘As I was going to board an Indigo flight, I saw thick smoke coming out in the distance.

‘Soon after boarding the aircraft, an announcement for a flight delay was made. Later, we got to know through the media that a flight had crashed.’

Ahmedabad airport to resume flights

India’s aviation ministry has confirmed flights will resume from Ahmedabad airport.

All planes had been grounded and operations temporarily suspended in the aftermath of the Air India 171 crash.

Ahmedabad airport has set up an assistance area for families of those who were travelling to London Gatwick.

Breaking:More than 100 bodies brought to hospital, police say

More than 100 bodies were brought to a hospital in India’s Ahmedabad after the Air India plane crash, local police have said.

Local media is reporting that at least 91 people have died in the crash after their bodies were brought into hospitals across Gujarat state.

Authorities are yet to confirm the exact number of fatalities but the country’s health minister has said there are ‘many’ that have been killed.

Data suggests unusual takeoff pattern before tragedy, expert reveals

Preliminary flight tracking data from the Boeing 787-8 reveals a concerning takeoff pattern in the moments before the aircraft crashed, according to an aviation expert.

Data logs appear to show that the jet stayed on the ground or taxiing slowly for more than four minutes after it first appeared on public trackers.

It increased sharply in speed to 174 knots at 08.08 local time, with an altitude of 625 feet – far below standard for a commercial aircraft several minutes into departure.

No further altitude gains were recorded.

Lt Col John R Davidson, a former US Air Force pilot commented on the data: ‘From the data available, AIC171 appears to have reached takeoff speed – but not altitude.

‘To be at 625 feet at over 170 knots more than four minutes after rolling out is highly irregular. This suggests either a very late rotation or a stall shortly after takeoff.

‘There are a number of possible scenarios: thrust or engine performance issues, excessive aircraft weight, poor trim or flap configuration, or a more critical failure that affected the aircraft’s ability to climb. Weather, windshear or even bird strike can’t be ruled out either at this early stage.

‘The low-altitude, high-speed reading at the final moment might indicate a steep nose-down trajectory or a stall event immediately following takeoff.

‘This is consistent with accidents like Spanair Flight 5022 and Flydubai Flight 981, where mechanical or environmental factors combined with compromised lift performance led to loss of control during or just after liftoff.’

But he cautioned: ‘Flight data alone isn’t enough to determine fault — but it tells us this aircraft never truly made it airborne in a meaningful way. Whatever happened, it happened fast, and right at the most critical phase of flight.’

Picture: Plane embedded in doctors’ hostel after crash

This image shows the back of the Air India plane as it became embedded in a building following the crash in Ahmedabad.

Released by the Central Industrial Security Force, the plane’s tail can be seen after it landed into a doctors’ hostel which has also been described as a medical college in the Meghani area.

Foreign Office deploys crisis team in London and Delhi

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has stood up a crisis team in India and the UK, David Lammy has said.

The Foreign Secretary told 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.

‘My son jumped from the window when the plane hit his hostel,’ mother reveals

A woman has told Indian media that her son jumped from a second-floor window when the plane crashed into his hostel – and miraculously survived.

The building is reported to have been full of doctors from a nearby medical centre when Air India flight 171 smashed into it.

‘My son had gone to the hostel during lunch break, and the plane crashed there. My son is safe, and I have spoken to him. He jumped from the second floor, so he suffered some injuries,’ the woman told India’s Ani news agency.

Plane crashed into a hostel housing doctors, police say

‘The building on which it has crashed is a doctors’ hostel… we have cleared almost 70% to 80% of the area and will clear the rest soon,’ a senior police officer told reporters at the scene.

Local media reports that the building was full of doctors from a nearby medical centre eating their lunch at the time of the crash.

Pictures show food still on the canteen tables in the aftermath.

Narendra Modi: Crash is a tragedy and ‘heartbreaking beyond words’

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi expressed shock and sadness over the India Airlines crash in a statement on X.

Video: Rescue efforts underway after horror plane crash

*warning – scenes may be distressing*

We can now show yoiu footage from the rescue operation in Ahmedabad following the plane crash of flight 171.

‘Dead bodies were scattered all over’

An eyewitness who lives close to the crash scene has told Indian media how he saw ‘dead bodies and debris scattered all over’ following the plane crash.

The man, who was interviewed just yards from the scene where the plane plummeted into a medical college, said he came to investigate after he heard a ‘massive sound’ at home.

He told the Press Trust of India news agency:

When we went out to see what had happened, there was a layer of thick smoke in the air. When we came here, dead bodies and debris from the crashed aircraft were scattered all over.

Breaking:At least 30 bodies recovered from crash site, rescue workers say

At least 30 bodies have been recovered from a building from a building at the site of a plane crash in India’s western city of Ahmedabad, rescue personnel at the site said.

More people were trapped inside, the rescue workers said.

Plane was being flown by experienced pilot

An experienced pilot was flying Air India flight 171 when it crashed, it has emerged.

Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain, had 8,200 hours of flying experience.

First Officer Clive Kundar, who was assisting the captain, had 1,100 hours of flight experience.

The two men were among 12 crewmembers on board at the time of the crash.

Air India switches profile picture to black circle

Air India has changed its profile picture to a black circle across its social media platforms following the crash this morning.

The airline has temporarily switched from its usual red and white logo in an apparent mark of respect for passengers on board flight 171.

Pictures: Crowds gather at crash scene as rescuers scramble to find passengers

New photographs show crowds starting to build at the crash scene in Ahmedabad as rescuers scramble to find passengers on the crashed Air India flight.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft crashed into a medical colleage before bursting into flames in the Meghani area of the city.

Indian health minister confirms ‘many killed’ in plane crash

India’s health minister has confirmed ‘many people’ have been killed in the plane crash in the first official confirmation of fatalities.

Jagat Prakash Nadda said he wanted to provide ‘all possible help’ to families affected by the tragedy which is reported to the worst aviation disaster in the nation’s history.

In a statement on X, he said:

The news of many people getting killed in a plane crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat is extremely sad. I appeal to all BJP workers to get involved in relief and rescue work and provide all possible help to the affected families. I pray to God to give strength to the bereaved families to bear the unbearable pain and to provide speedy recovery to the injured.

King to receive updates on Air India crash

The King is being kept updated on the developing situation after a Gatwick-bound Air India plane crashed, Buckingham Palace said.

Air India crash may be result of multiple bird hits, experts claim

A former pilot has claimed multiple bird hits may have caused Air India flight 171 to crash with both engines losing power.

Reacting to the crash near Ahmedabad airport, captain Saurabh Bhatnagar, an ex-pilot, told NDTV:

It looks, prima facie, like a case of multiple bird hits wherein both the engines have lost power. The take-off was perfect and just, I believe, short of taking the gear up, the aircraft started descending, which can happen only in case the engine loses power or the aircraft stops developing lift. Obviously, the investigation will reveal the exact reason.

Authorities are yet to determine the official cause of the crash.

Gujurat chief minister – Injured passengers to be treated on war footing

Bhupendra Patel, Gujurat’s chief minister, has told how a ‘war footing’ has been set up to help Air India passengers who will receive priority treatment at the state’s hospitals.

In a statement on X, Mr Patel wrote:

I am deeply saddened by the accident of the Air India passenger plane crash in Ahmedabad. I have instructed the officials to take immediate rescue and relief operations in the accident and to make arrangements for immediate treatment of the injured passengers on a war footing. I have also instructed to arrange a green corridor to take the injured passengers for treatment and to ensure all the treatment arrangements in the hospital on priority.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is understood to have sent his top officials to Ahmedabad to help with the rescue operation.

It is not yet known if there are any survivors following the crash.

Pictured: Charred and smoking debris is seen at the site of the crash

Plane made mayday call and then fell silent

Air traffic control at Ahmedabad airport said the aircraft departed at 1.39pm local time (9.09am BST).

Moments later, the passenger jet sent out a ‘mayday’ call, signalling an emergency.

No response followed the signal, according to officials.

Pictured: Firefighters tackle smoke and flames at crash scene

New photographs show Indian firefighters working at the scene of the plane crash after buildings were damaged in the Meghani area of Ahmedabad.

Keir Starmer: Crash appears ‘devastating’ and government is monitoring the situation

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has shared a statement on the Air India plane crash.

The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating.

The PM added that he is being kept up to date with the situation.

Air India confirm 11 children were on board

Air India has released more information regarding the nationalities of passengers.

The airline said 169 passengers are Indian nationals, 53 are British, one is Canadian and seven are Portuguese.

The Reuters news agency reported that 217 adults and 11 children were on board the flight.

The flight was carrying a total of 242 people onboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Ahmedabad Airport closed after crash

A spokesperson for Ahmedabad Airport confirmed the plane crashed ‘shortly after takeoff, outside the airport.’

In a statement it added: ‘As a result, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad, is currently not operational. All flight operations are temporarily suspended until further notice.

‘Passengers are advised to check with their respective airlines for the latest updates before proceeding to the airport.

‘We request your cooperation and patience as authorities manage this evolving situation. Further updates will be provided as soon as available.’

Pictures show moment plane descended and crashed into buildings seconds after take off

UK government says it is working with local authorities and will support those impacted

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 foreign office said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Commons Leader Lucy Powell said the UK Government will provide ‘all the support that it can’ to those on the flight.

Air India chairman offers condolences to families affected in the tragedy

Air India’s Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran shared a heartfelt statement that read: ‘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. 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.’

Breaking:Air India confirm 53 British nationals on board

Fifty-three British nationals were on board an Air India flight bound for Gatwick airport which crashed after take-off in Ahmedabad, Air India said.

The flight manifest included 169 Indians, 53 Britons, one Canadian and seven Portuguese nationals, according to officials.

The flight was due to land at London Gatwick at 18.25 tonight, the airport confirmed in a statement.

Watch: Horrifying moment Air India plane crashes and bursts into flames in Ahmedabad

Incident marks first crash of a Boeing 787 aircraft

Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8, crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar five minutes after taking off.

The 787 Dreamliner is a widebody, twin-engine plane. This is the first crash ever of a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.

The aircraft was introduced in 2009 and more than 1,000 have been delivered to dozens of airlines, according to the flightradar24 website.

Heavy fuel load has complicated rescue operation

Although officials are yet to release a statement on the crash.

Experts have suggested the amount of fuel used on an international route has worsened the fire following the crash impact, making it a more complicated rescue operation, the Times of India is reporting.

The flight crashed just minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad this afternoon.

Flight was carrying 230 passengers

The Times of India is reporting 242 people were on board the Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane including 230 passengers, two pilots and 10 cabin crew members.

Multiple fire engines and ambulances have been dispatched to the crash scene in the Meghani area of Ahmedabad.

According to the newspaper, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will open a formal investigation along with a possible technical team from Boeing.

Flight tracker shows last signal from crashed aircraft

Flight tracker website Flightradar24 shared a screenshot showing the last signal from FlightAI171 seconds after the plane took off.

The flight reportedly reached an altitude of just 625 feet before it began to descend, according to the flight tracking service.

Pictures show debris and smoke rising from the crash site

Shocking images shared to social media showed a huge trail of smoke rising from the crash site near the international airport this morning.

Sections of the plane’s fuselage and tail were also seen protruding from a building.

Aviation expert reacts to Air India plane crash

Aviation expert Julian Bray told MailOnline: ‘It’s a Boeing Dreamliner that has gone down – not certain whether they’ve managed to get anybody off the plane.

‘If it has indeed crash landed and they can deploy the chutes out then they should be able to get people off in 90 seconds.

‘I am aware there are fire appliances in attendance – this is a major incident.

‘It is very disappointing that it is a Dreamliner as it is a state-of-the-art Boeing.

‘We cannot rule out security issues,’ he said, before advising caution that he can only speculate at this time.

Breaking:Horror as Gatwick-bound Air India jet with 242 on board crashes just seconds after take-off

Here is MailOnline’s breaking news story on the Air India crash

An Air India flight bound for London Gatwick carrying 242 passengers and crew has crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport in the northwestern Indian state of Gujarat.

Air India flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, careened back to earth in the Meghani area of the city just minutes after leaving the runway.

Shocking images shared to social media showed a huge trail of smoke emanating from the crash site near the international airport this morning.

Air India confirms UK-bound flight ‘was involved in an incident’

Air India plane bound for London crashes in Ahmedabad

Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage as an Air India flight heading to London crashes in Ahmedabad.

Early reports state 242 people were on board the plane which was heading to London Gatwick.

Stick with us as we bring you live updates on this breaking story.

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Air India crash live updates: ‘No survivors expected’ 

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