An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed into a residential area of Meghaninagar in Ahmedabad shortly after take-off on Thursday, 12 June 2025. The aircraft was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members when it issued a Mayday call before plunging to the ground in a ball of fire, sending plumes of thick black smoke billowing into the sky. Further, the crash has brought back haunting memories of the Kozhikode Air India Express tragedy of 2020, another devastating accident involving an Air India-operated aircraft.
Ahmedabad Air India Plane Accident
Former Gujarat Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Rupani was reportedly among the 230 passengers on board.
A video captured by a local resident shows the wide-bodied twin-engine aircraft losing altitude rapidly moments after take-off, before exploding on impact. Emergency services were immediately deployed, with authorities fearing numerous fatalities. Investigations are currently underway.
Kozhikode Air India Express Crash (2020): A Grim Reminder
On 7 August 2020, an Air India Express Boeing 737 aircraft flying from Dubai to Kozhikode under the Vande Bharat Mission crashed at Calicut International Airport in Kerala. The aircraft, Flight IX-1344, was carrying 190 people, including 184 passengers and six crew, as per a report on Deccan Herald.
As the aircraft attempted to land in heavy monsoon rain, it overshot the runway, slid down a 35-foot slope, and broke apart into two sections. The crash claimed 21 lives, including both pilots, and injured 75 passengers seriously.
What Went Wrong In Kozhikode?
According to the official investigation, pilot error and failure to follow established safety protocols were primary factors behind the crash. The aircraft had initially aborted a landing due to poor visibility, caused in part by a malfunctioning windshield wiper, as per reports. On the second attempt, amid persistent heavy rainfall, the aircraft touched down too far along the wet runway, making it impossible to come to a halt in time.
