Indian Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu expressed condolences and said all emergency agencies were actively engaged in rescue and relief efforts. “My thoughts and prayers are with those affected and their families,” he said.
Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran released a statement expressing deep sorrow over the accident. He confirmed that the airline’s priority is supporting those impacted and assisting emergency responders. An emergency support center has been activated for families.
Flight AI171 was operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a modern long-haul aircraft. Gatwick Airport confirmed the flight was scheduled to arrive at 6:25 p.m. UK time but acknowledged the crash occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad.
Aviation expert Julian Bray commented on the incident, noting that the Dreamliner is a state-of-the-art aircraft and that emergency procedures, such as evacuation slides, can typically be deployed quickly in such events. However, the cause of the crash remains unknown and is currently under investigation.
Weather conditions were reportedly clear with light winds at the time of the accident. No official information about casualties has been released yet, though the extent of the crash site damage suggests the situation is serious.
This tragedy follows other recent aviation incidents involving Boeing aircraft, including the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes in previous years.
Air India posted a brief update on social media:
“Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. We are currently gathering information and will provide updates as soon as possible.”
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash. Further updates will be shared as more details become available.