The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Saturday provided its first official briefing following the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, which killed at least 260 people. Civil aviation secretary Samir Kumar Sinha confirmed that the aircraft had climbed to only 650 feet before it started to lose altitude, leading to the fatal crash into a medical hostel complex in Meghaninagar.
Pilot’s Final Moments and Mayday Call
Sinha said the aircraft, operating as Air India AI 171, gave a Mayday call at 1:39 PM, just one minute after takeoff. “After reaching a height of 650 feet, the aircraft started to lose height. The pilot gave a Mayday call to the ATC at 1:39 PM (June 12),” Sinha stated at the press briefing. He added that when the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tried to reach the aircraft after the distress call, it received no response.
VIDEO | Civil Aviation Ministry’s press briefing in Ahmedabad plane crash:
“After reaching at a height of 650 feet, the aircraft started to lose height. The pilot gave Mayday call to the ATC at PM (June 12). As per the ATC, when it tried to contact the aircraft then there was… pic.twitter.com/yEo1aGcdHH
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 14, 2025
“As per the ATC, when it tried to contact the aircraft then there was no response. After exactly one minute, the aircraft crashed in Meghani Nagar, situated about 2 km from the airport,” he said.
Sinha clarified that the aircraft had previously completed the Paris-Delhi-Ahmedabad sector without reporting any issues. This information rules out any immediate concerns before the flight’s final leg.
“Before Thursday’s accident, the aircraft had completed the Paris-Delhi-Ahmedabad sector flight without any trouble,” Sinha noted.
Civil Aviation Minister Speaks on National Tragedy
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu also addressed the nation during the briefing, calling the crash a moment of national grief.
“The accident near Ahmedabad airport shook the entire nation. My deepest condolences are with family members who have lost their loved ones. I have also lost my father in a road accident. So, to a certain extent, I can understand the pain and anguish that the family members are feeling,” he said.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has begun a fleet-wide inspection of Boeing 787 Dreamliners operated by Air India.
“A surveillance of Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet has started as per the direction of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Of the 34 Dreamliners in India, eight have already undergone inspection,” Kinjarapu confirmed.
Crash Toll and Nationality of Victims
Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI 171), carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed into a medical college hostel complex moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Only one person survived.
The crash killed 241 people onboard, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals, along with 12 crew members. Over 20 people on the ground also died in the hostel complex.
Aviation experts told Hindustan Times that the flight profile — descending while the nose of the aircraft remained elevated — may suggest a sudden power loss or engine failure. However, they stressed that the exact cause would only be determined after a detailed investigation.
