Two days after the fatal crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched a full-scale investigation led by the Union Home Secretary. The move comes amid nationwide grief and growing scrutiny over aircraft safety protocols.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, in an emotional press briefing, confirmed that DNA testing is in progress to identify victims, while the government accelerates relief measures for affected families and ramps up inspections of the country’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet.
“The last two days have been very difficult. The accident near Ahmedabad airport has shaken the entire nation,” Kinjarapu said.
“It is heart-wrenching to see the stories of those who lost their lives. My deepest condolences to the families. We are doing everything in our capacity to assist them.”
Flight Path and Crash Details
Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner (flight AI171) departed from Ahmedabad for London Gatwick at 1:39 PM on June 12. Within moments of takeoff, the aircraft reached a height of only 650 feet before it began to descend rapidly.
#WATCH | Delhi: #AhmedabadPlaneCrash | Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu says “The last two days have been, very difficult. The accident that happened near Ahmedabad airport shook the entire nation. My deepest condolences to all the families who have lost… pic.twitter.com/hiSTI4L4gX
— ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2025
The pilot, Captain Sumit Sabharwal, sent a “Mayday” distress call just seconds into the flight. Air Traffic Control in Ahmedabad lost contact with the aircraft almost immediately after.
At 1:40 PM, the plane crashed into a densely populated residential area in Meghaninagar, just 2 km from the airport. Of the 242 people onboard—including 230 passengers, 10 crew members, and 2 pilots—241 were killed, leaving only one survivor.
Black Box Recovered, Probe Underway
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) recovered the aircraft’s black box at 5 PM on June 13. Subsequently, the flight data recorder is being analyzed to understand the exact cause of the crash.
“We are waiting for the AAIB’s full technical report. It will tell us what really went wrong,” said Kinjarapu.
India operates 34 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, and following the tragedy, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered immediate technical inspections of the entire fleet. So far, eight Dreamliners have undergone checks.
“We maintain strict safety standards, but this incident showed there’s a need for deeper scrutiny,” the minister added.
Victim Identification and Support for Families
The Centre, in coordination with Gujarat authorities, has started the DNA identification process.
“Once identification is confirmed, the bodies are being handed over to the respective families. We hope the process finishes soon, but protocols must be followed,” Kinjarapu said.
Air India has been directed to support the bereaved families with travel arrangements, documentation, and counseling.
“We are ensuring there is no lapse in process or protocol,” the minister emphasized.
Following the crash, Ahmedabad airport’s runway was closed at 2:30 PM and reopened partially by 5 PM. The minister praised the swift coordination between emergency response teams.
The aircraft had completed a Paris–Delhi–Ahmedabad leg before the crash, with no reported technical issues or safety flags prior to takeoff.
