Air India Plane Crash LIVE Update: DGCA Confirms 242 Passengers Were on Board, Shares Statement
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has released preliminary details regarding the Air India Flight AI-171 crash that occurred on 12 June 2025. The Boeing 787 aircraft, registered as VT-ANB, was operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick when it crashed immediately after take-off from Runway 23 at 13:39 IST. A total of 242 people were on board, including 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew members, and two pilots — Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with 8,200 flying hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, with 1,100 hours. A mayday call was issued shortly after departure, but there was no communication with Air Traffic Control thereafter. The aircraft went down just outside the airport perimeter, with visuals from the crash site showing thick black smoke billowing from the area. The cause of the crash is yet to be determined, and a detailed investigation has been initiated. Rescue and recovery operations are currently underway.
