It began as a routine international flight — a journey from Ahmedabad, India, to London’s Gatwick Airport. Passengers boarded, flight attendants prepped the cabin, and the engines of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner roared to life. But within moments of takeoff, what should have been an uneventful trip turned into a national tragedy that has sent shockwaves through both India and the United Kingdom.
Authorities and citizens alike are reeling from the horrific crash of Air India Flight AI171. With hundreds of lives affected, questions abound. How could such a catastrophe occur so quickly after departure? Who was on board? And most importantly, what happens next?
Let’s take a closer look at what we know so far about this devastating event.
A Sudden Disaster After Takeoff
According to India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Air India Flight AI171 departed from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on the afternoon of June 12. The aircraft took off at approximately 13:38 IST (8:08 UTC). Within seconds, distress calls came in.
Initial data suggests the aircraft made a “MAYDAY” call immediately after lifting off from Runway 23 — and then fell silent. Flight tracking services, including FlightRadar24, confirm that the final signal was received less than a minute into the flight, with the aircraft reaching only around 625 feet in altitude.
