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A PASSENGER plane with 53 Brits on board has erupted into a fireball after crashing into a doctors’ hostel in India.
At least 242 people were on board the Air India aircraft as footage shows it smashing into a residential area in Ahmedabad.
The plane was headed to London Gatwick, Air India confirmed.
There were 230 passengers and 12 crew on board, the director general of the Directorate of Civil Aviation announced.
Also on board was 169 Indian travellers, one Canadian and seven Portuguese nationals.
According to flight tracking website Flightradar,
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner lost contact just seconds after take-off.
The final alert was last logged at 1:38pm local time – less than a minute after it started the journey.
It had only reached 625ft at the time, officials believe.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement: “The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating.”
Police said the plane crashed into a “civilian area” in Meghani Nagar.
In a statement Air India said: “Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick was involved in an accident on 12 June 2025.
“At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest opportunity.”
Officials are yet to comment on if there are any casualties.
Harrowing footage shows the plane flying over the residential area of Meghani Nagar as it hurtles towards the ground.
Moments later it is seen disappearing behind buildings before a huge blast erupts in the distance.
Thick plumes of black smoke can be seen quickly pouring into the skies.
The Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services Department quickly deployed over five fire-fighting teams to the site as well as dozens of ambulances.
A senior police officer in Ahmedabad told ANI news agency the plane crashed into a doctors’ hostel.
Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, the Civil Aviation Minister, said in a statement: “Shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad.
“We are on highest alert. My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families.”
It is still unclear what caused the disaster.
Read our live blog on the Air India plane crash…
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Boeing makes first statement
Boeing has made its first statement since the Air India crash.
It read: “We are aware of initial reports and are working to gather more information.”
The plane that crashed is a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
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Air India passenger helpline
Air India has “set up a dedicated passenger hotline number”.
Families looking for more information can call 1800 5691 444.
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Pilots had ‘nearly 10,000 hours flying experience’
The pilots of the plane that crashed had nearly 10,000 hours of flying experience between them, local media reports.
The captain had 8,200 hours of experience and their co-pilot had 1,100, according to NDTV, citing the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
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Sir Keir Starmer: ‘scenes are devastating’
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said “the scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating”, adding he was being kept updated as the situation develops.
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Foreign office ‘working with local authorities’
The UK’s foreign office has put out a statement on the Air India plane crash.
The statement said: “We are aware of a plane crash in Ahmedabad.
“The UK is working with local authorities in India to urgently establish the facts and provide support to those involved.”
Brits who have concerns can call 0207 008 5000, it added.
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Air India plane crashed on a hostel building for doctors
The Air India plane crashed into a hostel building for doctors, a police official has said.
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Some other airline accidents in India in recent decades
August 2020: At least 18 people died and 16 were severely injured when an Air India Express Boeing 737 plane skidded off the runway in the southern city of Kozhikode during heavy rain, plunged into a valley and crashed nose-first into the ground.
May 2010: An Air India Boeing 737 flight from Dubai overshot the runway at the airport in the southern city of Mangaluru and crashed into a ravine, killing 158 people on board
July 2000: More than 50 people were killed when a state-owned Alliance Air flight between Kolkata and the capital, New Delhi, crashed in a residential area of the eastern city of Patna.
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Crashed flight ‘had 53 British, 169 Indian, 1 Canadian and 7 Portuguese passengers’ – source
There were 53 Brits on board, as well as 169 Indian, 1 Canadian and 7 Portuguese passengers.
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Pilot ‘made mayday signal’ before crash
The pilot managed to make a mayday call before crash, according to aviation expert Julian Bray who spoke to Sky News.
This reportedly means the crew would have been aware of an issue prior to the incident happening.
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All Ahmedabad airport flights suspended
Ahmedabad airport has suspended all its flights until further notice and is not operational, a spokesperson from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad said.
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242 passengers and crew on board
Here is Air India’s statement in full: “Air India confirms that flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an accident today after take-off.
“The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft.
“Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals.
“The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals.
“We have also set up a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 to provide more information.
“Air India is giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident.”
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‘First ever’ Boeing 787 crash
This is the first ever crash of a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner heading to London that crashed has a total of 256 seats, according to SeatGuru.
It was scheduled to land at 18:25 at Gatwick.
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Crash in pictures
Credit: AP 
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Gatwick Airport confirms plane was due to land in London
In a statement on X, Gatwick Airport said: “We can confirm that flight AI171 that crashed on departure from Ahmedabad Airport today was due to land at London Gatwick at 18:25.”
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‘We are on highest alert’ says minister
India’s aviation minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said: “We are on highest alert.
“I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action.
“Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site.
“My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families.”
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India’s aviation minister ‘shocked and devastated’ by crash
India’s Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu has said he is “shocked and devastated” at the plane crash in Ahmedabad.
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Plane has 256 capacity – SeatGuru said
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner heading to London that crashed has a total of 256 seats, according to SeatGuru.
It was scheduled to land at 18:25 at Gatwick
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Plane crashed in fireball ‘outside airport perimeter’ – reports
India’s aviation regulator has said the plane crashed after take-off “outside the airport perimeter”.
Up to 242 people were on board the Air India aircraft as it smashed into the ground near to an airport in Ahmedabad.
The plane was headed to London Gatwick in the UK, Air India said.
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Signal from plane lost at 625ft – Flight Radar
Flight tracking website Flight Radar has said that the Air India flight was to fly from Ahmedabad International Airport to London Gatwick Airport at 09:50 local time, landing 18:25 local time.
The signal was lost at 10:08 local time at 625ft – less than a minute after take off, Flight Radar said on X.
The website earlier said that the last signal from the plane was received seconds after take off.
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Air India statement following crash
Air India posted on X: “Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025.
“At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest.”
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Rescue teams mobilised says India aviation minister
India’s aviation minister has said “we are on highest alert” and that “rescue teams have been mobilised” following the crash.
Up to 242 people were believed to have been on board the Air India aircraft as it smashed into the ground at an airport in Ahmedabad.
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Plane appears to have crashed in residential area
The passenger plane headed for London appears to have crashed in a residential area, according to videos on social media.
A fireball explosion is said to have erupted at the airport as thick plumes of black smoke quickly poured into the skies.
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Last signal received seconds after take off – Flight Radar
Flight tracking website Flight Radar has said that the last signal from the plane was received seconds after take off.
It posted on X: “We are following reports of a crash of Air India flight #AI171, external from Ahmedabad to London.
“We received the last signal from the aircraft at 08:08:51 UTC, just seconds after take off.”
