June 12, 2025, Ahmedabad. It was noon. The heat was at its peak, but a chill spread across the city as a dream soaring in the sky crumbled to ashes. Air India Flight AI171, bound for London, crashed within minutes. Moments after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, the plane carrying 242 people exploded over Meghani Nagar.
The Beginning of the Tragedy: Everything Ended in an Instant
It was 1:38 p.m. People were busy with their work in their homes and offices when a powerful explosion shook the entire area. Ramesh Patel, who lives in Meghani Nagar, said, “I was on my rooftop. I saw the plane flying very low. A few seconds later, a huge explosion occurred, causing everything to shake. Flames shot up high, and the sky was filled with smoke.”
Within minutes, photos and videos went viral on social media. There was only fire, debris, and silence. Police and fire brigade vehicles arrived at the scene, but the fire was so intense that many houses were reduced to ashes.
AI171 was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, the very aircraft considered a symbol of modernity and safety. The flight carried 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Most were from Gujarat, heading to London Gatwick Airport, some for business, some to visit family, and some returning before their children’s schools reopened.
Air India stated that the flight was a daily service, specifically for the Gujarati community living in the UK. However, the journey was never completed that day.
Initial investigations suggest that the plane suffered a technical or system failure. Several eyewitnesses reported that the aircraft made a strange noise and was flying very low shortly after takeoff.
The Boeing 787, known as the “ Dreamliner,“ was considered one of the safest aircraft ever built. However, its early models had previously experienced problems such as battery overheating and electrical system failure. This is why this accident raises serious questions for both Boeing and Air India.
The last such major plane accident in India occurred in Mangalore in 2010, when an Air India Express flight skidded off the runway. But the 2025 accident is proving to be even more significant.
It is being reported that this is the Dreamliner’s first fatal accident, as the model was launched in 2011 and has been in service around the world ever since.
Hundreds of families were seen crying outside the airport. Some had their phones switched off, others were missing. Air India set up a helpline, but hopes were fading with every passing minute.
One woman cried in front of a TV camera, “My daughter was going to London to study. She said” Mom, I’ll call soon”Now the phone will never ring.“
The government has formed a special committee to investigate the accident. The Civil Aviation Minister has stated that foreign experts, especially officials from Boeing and the US National Transport Safety Board (NTSB), will also be involved in the investigation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as a“national tragedy” and convened an emergency meeting. He announced compensation for the families of those killed in the accident.
Hundreds of locals, along with the fire department, rushed to the scene to help. Many young people covered the injured with their clothes, gave them water, and carried them to ambulances. Students from a local medical college, whose hostel a part of the plane had fallen on, volunteered to rescue the injured.
Immediately after the accident, various rumors began circulating on the internet; some claimed the plane was struck by lightning, while others suggested an engine fire. But there was no official confirmation.
“#AI171Cra” and “#AhmedabadAirInd” began trending on Instagram and Twitter. The Dawar Times and several media platforms provided live coverage from the scene.
The Boeing Company has already grappled with accidents involving its 737 Max series. Now, questions are being raised about the safety of the 787 Dreamliner. If the investigation proves a technical fault, it will impact airlines worldwide.
As humans fly through the air, they often feel they have conquered nature. However, such accidents remind us that, no matter how far technology advances, a minor glitch can still claim hundreds of lives.
That afternoon of June 12 left a deep scar not just on the soul of Ahmedabad, but on the entire nation of India. Those white wings flying in the sky have now turned to ashes, and every mother, every father, every friend is now thinking only one thing:” only the flight had been delayed that day”.
