I am shocked and dismayed to hear news that Air India AI 171, operating from #Ahmedabad (AMD) to London Gatwick (LGW), was involved in an accident after take-off on Thursday, 12 June 2025. The Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs (local time) with 242 passengers and crew on board. The passengers included 217 adults, 11 children and two infants. There were 169 Indian nationals, 53 #British nationals, 7 #Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian national. Air India flight AI 171 broadcast its last signal at 13:38 51 local time, at an altitude of just 625 feet (ca. 191 m), just seconds after take-off.
Here is one video of the crash -do not view if it will cause you distress or nightmares:
The CEO of Air India issued this message on Thursday evening, Indian time.:
Campbell Wilson has been CEO and Managing Director of Air India since June 2022. Previously, he held various roles at the Singapore Airlines group before becoming the founding CEO of Scoot.
The situation remains chaotic, and details are still emerging. Over 200 bodies have been recovered from the Air India 787 crash near Ahmedabad, with “many people” confirmed dead by India’s Health Minister and some local residents among the fatalities due to the plane crashing into a residential area that included offices and a medical student dormitory. An unspecified number of injured people on the ground were taken to the hospital, and more than 100 bodies have been brought in for autopsies.
Despite the devastation, there are reports that a gentleman seated in 11A (left side window at the emergency exit) has been rescued. Still, there is no confirmed information about additional survivors at this time.
The Plane
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with registration VT-ANB. The plane entered service on 8th February 2014. It was stored at Mumbai Airport from November 2019 to June 2020 but has been flying since. .
Despite concerns and technical issues raised by whistleblowers and regulators about the Boeing 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner—including allegations of flawed manufacturing, gaps in safety culture, and improper assembly—the Boeing 787 has maintained an excellent safety record with no previous fatal crashes or hull losses. Since entering service in 2011, the aircraft has completed over 1.4 million flights and safely transported more than 600 million passengers. Aviation experts consistently regarded the 787 as one of the safest wide body aircraft in commercial use, thanks to its advanced design, composite materials, and rigorous operational standards, even as investigations into production practices have continued. This crash will bring new scrutiny to the Boeing company’s safety record.
Air India Safety
Air India’s official safety rating as of September 2024 was 7/7 on AirlineRatings.com, with all audits and incident ratings passed and the airline considered “fatality-free” at that time. However, following the fatal crash of Air India Flight 171 on June 12, 2025, the safety rating was downgraded to 4/7, with the airline now failing the “fatality-free” category, although it still passes all audits and incident assessments.
The Transformation of Air India
I have flown with 132 airlines across almost three million kilometres, but I have never flown Air India. Air India, once a quality carrier and a top choice when I was a child, has steadily declined over the years. So, for travel to and from India, I’ve chosen carriers like British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
In January 2022, the Tata Group—India’s largest conglomerate—reacquired Air India after nearly 70 years, aiming to restore the airline’s reputation and competitiveness. Tata has invested heavily in renewing the fleet, upgrading in-flight service, retraining staff, and rebranding Air India’s entire customer experience. CEO Campbell Wilson and his new team have been tasked with elevating Air India to world-class standards and re-establishing it as a leading global carrier. This crash is a devastating blow to these efforts
Conclusion
My condolences to those impacted by this #crash.
A dedicated emergency helpline has been set up in India: 1800 5691 444. Air India is updating at Twitter (yeah I know its changed its name)
Top 25 Safest Airlines in the World
These lists for both full-service and low-cost carriers are compiled annually by AirlineRatings.com. You can view the full lists and methodology directly on their site.
- Air New Zealand
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- Cathay Pacific (tied)
- Qatar Airways (tied)
- Emirates (tied)
- Virgin Australia
- Etihad Airways
- ANA (All Nippon Airways)
- EVA Air
- Korean Air
- Alaska Airlines
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- TAP Portugal
- Hawaiian Airlines
- American Airlines
- SAS
- British Airways
- Iberia
- Finnair
- Lufthansa/Swiss
- JAL (Japan Airlines)
- Air Canada
- Delta Air Lines
- Vietnam Airlines
- United Airlines
Top 25 Safest Low-Cost Airlines (2025)
- HK Express
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- Ryanair
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- AirAsia
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- VietJet Air
- Southwest Airlines
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- flydubai
- Norwegian
- Vueling
- Jet2
- Sun Country Airlines
- WestJet
- JetBlue Airways
- Air Arabia
- IndiGo
- Eurowings
- Allegiant Air
- Cebu Pacific
- ZipAir
- SKY Airline
- Air Baltic
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