The airplane of Air India crashed during takeoff from Ahmedabad, causing damage

A Boeing 787 aircraft operated by Air India, which was travelling to London, crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, becoming the most serious incident involving the American planemaker's most modern wide-body aircraft.

The airline reported that flight AI171 was "involved in an incident" and that Air India "is establishing the details". Footage shared on social media shows a huge plume of smoke engulfing the crash site, with no reports of fatalities or survivors. According to news agency ANI, the flight was carrying 242 passengers and crew.

Video footage shows the aircraft with its landing gear still extended shortly after takeoff, slowly losing altitude before exploding in a massive fireball upon impact in a residential area. According to Flightradar24, the twin-engine aircraft reached an altitude of 625 meters at a speed of 174 knots.

The incident expands a series of serious and fatal incidents in commercial aviation this year, including the mid-air collision in Washington earlier in 2025 between a military helicopter and an aircraft. Air India is in the midst of a strategic shift, which includes a massive aircraft order, as it seeks to capitalize on the growing demand from India's rising middle class.

Boeing shares fell 5.6% in pre-market trading. The 787 model is the company's most modern aircraft in operation and is popular with airlines as it is more fuel-efficient due to the use of lightweight materials.

The aircraft involved in Thursday's incident had the registration VT-ANB and was nearly 12 years old. The plane was powered by two General Electric Co. GEnx engines.

Air India operates 34 Boeing 787 aircraft, according to consultancy firm Cirium. Their ages range from just over 2 years to almost 14 years, with most being over a decade old. Overall, the airline has 192 Boeing and Airbus SE jet aircraft in its fleet. In 2023, Tatas signed a massive order for 470 aircraft to renew their inherited ageing models with new planes and position the airline for growth.

After today's incident, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad was closed. From Gatwick Airport, the second-largest in the London area, it was reported that the aircraft was scheduled to land in the UK capital at 6:25 PM. Air India began operating flights from Gatwick in 2023, launching four new routes, including to Ahmedabad.