"Shocked, Devastated": Aviation Minister On Ahmedabad Air India Plane Crash

Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu expressed shock over the Air India flight crash with 242 on board in Ahmedabad this afternoon and said he has activated all emergency response teams. The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (flight AI 171) was on its way to London carrying 232 passengers and 10 crew members. It crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport.

Track Live Updates: Air India Crash in Ahmedabad

Mr Naidu has also briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the crash and is rushing to Ahmedabad, the aviation minister's office said.

Shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad.

We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action.

Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all…

— Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) June 12, 2025

"(I am) shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad. We are on the highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action," said Mr Naidu in an online post.

AI171 Crash: What We Know So Far

The Dreamliner went down somewhere between 1 pm and 2 pm after making a Mayday call. A thick plume of grey smoke was seen rising from the ground in visuals from the crash site. At least two dozen ambulances are at the scene and some injured have been taken to the hospital.

Medical aid and relief are being rushed to the crash site, the minister said. "Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site. My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families," read his post.

Air India Crash: Pilots Sent "Mayday Call", Then Silence

Mr Naidu's office, in a separate statement, said the Aviation Minister has informed the PM he is rushing to Ahmedabad to oversee rescue and relief operations on the ground.

"The Prime Minister has directed the Minister to ensure all necessary support is extended immediately and asked to be kept regularly updated on the situation. All relevant agencies are on high alert, and coordinated efforts are underway," the statement said.

According to the country's aviation regulator, the plane was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal with 8,200 hours of experience and first officer Clive Kundar with 1,100 hours of experience.

Air India, owned by the Tata group, confirmed the incident related to its Ahmedabad-London Gatwick flight and said it has set up the dedicated hotline number 1800 5691 444 for information on passengers. Of those 242 on board, 169 are Indians, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and a Canadian national, it said.

Tata chairman N Chandrasekaran expressed "profound sorrow" and said they are doing everything to help the emergency response teams.