Air India Flight 171 Crash: Images from inside the hall at the B J Medical College

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171 crashed just seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was flying to London Gatwick with 242 people on board. The plane exploded and hit the first floor of a nearby building—a mess hall at BJ Medical College, about 2 kilometers from the airport.

The mess hall was full of undergraduate medical students eating lunch when the crash happened. Images show the plane’s tail sticking out of the damaged building. Inside, there are signs of fire damage, collapsed walls, and wreckage. Plates with half-eaten food remain on tables, showing how suddenly the disaster struck.

Rescue workers and locals rushed to the scene. Many students were treated at the nearby Civil Hospital Ahmedabad, though there is no official word yet on casualties. Over 100 bodies from the crash have reportedly been taken to a local hospital.

The plane was carrying 217 adults, 11 children, and crew members. Passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese. The crash has been described as devastating by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and heartbreaking by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The King of England is also being kept updated on the incident.

Air India’s chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. He assured that the airline is supporting emergency teams and families affected by the crash. An emergency center has been opened to help families seeking information.

Flight tracking data shows the aircraft lost contact less than a minute after takeoff. It reached a height of 625 feet before the crash.

A crisis team has been formed by the UK Foreign Office and India’s government to handle the situation. Rescue efforts are ongoing, and investigations into the cause of the crash have begun.