Air India Flight Crashes in Ahmedabad, at Least 100 Feared Dead

AHMEDABAD, INDIA - A Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft operating as Air India flight AI-171 crashed just minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, June 12. The plane was headed to London, bound for 242 people, including passengers and crew.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing debris scattered across a residential area in Meghaninagar, Ahmedabad. Rescue efforts are currently underway at the crash site, with multiple rescue teams and emergency services responding to the scene.

According to local media reports, several prominent individuals were on board the ill-fated flight, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The presence of Union Ministers CR Paatil and Rammohan Naidu on the flight was confirmed by officials.

Industrialists Pramukh Nanda, founder of Cargo Motors Group, and his wife Neha Pramukh Nanda, as well as their son Prayas Pramukh Nanda, were among the passengers. Subhash Amin, director of Luby Motors, was also reportedly onboard.

Local residents from Udaipur are said to have lost loved ones in the disaster, including four family members: Shubh and Shagun Modi, children of marble businessman Pinku Modi; Vardi Chand Menaria and Prakash Menaria from Rundeda village. According to sources, Shubh (24) and Shagun (22), both MBA graduates, were assisting their father in his business and were headed to London for a trip.

Another passenger identified as Khushboo Kanwar from Araba Dudawata village was en route to London to reunite with her husband, Dr Vipul Singh Rajpurohit, for the first time after their marriage.

Official identification of the passengers is expected once family members have been informed and standard protocols followed. Authorities have yet to confirm the condition of those on board the ill-fated flight.