Ahmedabad plane crash live updates: Former Gujarat CM likely on board; Ahmedabad airport closed

By HT News Desk
Published on: June 12, 2025 11:18 AM IST

Ahmedabad plane crash live: As per initial reports, the flight was taking off from Ahmedabad to Gatwick at the time of the crash. Fatalities due to the crash are unknown.​

Ahmedabad: Smoke billows after a plane crashed near Ahmedabad airport,
Ahmedabad plane crash live updates: An Air India plane carrying 242 passengers crashed after takeoff in Gujarat's Ahmedabad airport. Visuals of the plane crash circulated on social media show plumes of dark smoke in the sky. As per an Air India statement, initial reports, the flight was taking off from Ahmedabad to Gatwick at the time of the crash. Fatalities due to the crash are unknown.



Follow all the updates here:
June 12, 2025 11:18 AM IST

Ahmedabad plane crash LIVE: Pilots made MAYDAY call moments before crash​

Air India Crash live: As per a statement from aviation officials, the ATC stated that the Air India plane aircraft departed from Ahmadabad at 1339 IST from runway 23.

“It gave a MAYDAY Call to ATC, but thereafter, no response was given by the aircraft to the calls made by ATC,” said officials.

The plane crashed outside the airport five minutes after takeoff.
June 12, 2025 11:15 AM IST

Air India plane crash LIVE: Civil Aviation minister 'deeply shocked' after plane crash​

Ahmedabad plane crash: Union Civil Aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu stated he was "deeply shocked" after the news of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.

"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," he said on X.

"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," he added.

June 12, 2025 11:13 AM IST

Ahmedabad plane crash live news: Former Gujarat CM likely on board, say reports​

Air India plane crash update: Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani is suspected to be onboard the Air India plane that crashed near Ahmedabad airport on Thursday, reports TV9. An official confirmation is awaited.

June 12, 2025 11:08 AM IST

Air India plane crash: Video show thick smoke near Ahmedabad Airport​

Moments after an Air India plane carrying 242 passengers crashed, videos showing thick smoke in the air circulated on social media. Residents living near the Ahmedabad airport area captured the visuals of the plane crash.

As per initial statements, the flight en-route to Gatwick crashed five minutes after it took off.

June 12, 2025 11:02 AM IST

Ahmedabad plane crash live news: Passenger plan was en-route to London's Gatwick at time of crash​

Air India plane crash: As per an official statement from Air India, the plane was en-route from Ahmedabad to London's Gatwick at the time of the crash.

The plane took off at 1:38 PM and crashed near the airport five minutes after takeoff.
June 12, 2025 10:56 AM IST

Ahmedabad plane crash live: Ahmedabad Airport closed​

Ahmedabad Airport has been shut down after an Air India passenger plane crashed on Thursday.

June 12, 2025 10:49 AM IST

Ahmedabad plane crash live: Number of fatalities yet to be confirmed​

As per a report by ANI, at least 242 passengers were on board the plane. An official statement is awaited
June 12, 2025 10:47 AM IST

Ahmedabad plane crash live updates: Air India plane crashes in Gujarat​

An Air India passenger plane crashed shortly after taking off at Ahmedabad Airport. As per reports, at least 242 passengers were on board.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ahmedabad-plane-crash-live-updates-air-india-flight-crashes-ahmedabad-airport-death-toll-news-101749717953751.html

 

[Dragged Into Sunlight]

It's fun to speculate.

Yeah, dual engine failure is such a rare thing that it's going to have to come down to some ridiculous, stars aligned black swan even or the pilots making the dumbest reactions possible in response to some minor emergency.

 

[Not A Cat Person]

Yeah, dual engine failure is such a rare thing that it's going to have to come down to some ridiculous, stars aligned black swan even or the pilots making the dumbest reactions possible in response to some minor emergency.

My personal speculation is that Air India maintenance is just so bad that some system or systems that should have been fixed/cleaned/replaced ages ago simply never were, or were done improperly by poorly-trained, low-IQ Turks or 'jeets. Not pilot error, bad fuel, environmental factors, or inherent airplane design problem.

 

[not william stenchever]

Yeah, dual engine failure is such a rare thing that it's going to have to come down to some ridiculous, stars aligned black swan even or the pilots making the dumbest reactions possible in response to some minor emergency.

So it's a miracle the jeets hadn't pulled this off already.

 

[1Tonka_Truck]

This would actually support the power failure idea. However from my understanding the RAT is designed to produce power mainly when there is a system failure at altitude and normal cruising speed. The plane may have not been going fast enough for it to be able to spin up and power everything needed quickly enough.

The RAT is a constant speed, variable pitch system. It will spin at the correct speed, probably some multiple of 400Hz, as long the plane is above stall speed. The RAT is designed to generate enough electrical power and hydraulic flow to run the flight controls and engines. Whether it was actually able to do so is different, maintenance-related, question.

 

[RodgerDodger]

This would actually support the power failure idea. However from my understanding the RAT is designed to produce power mainly when there is a system failure at altitude and normal cruising speed. The plane may have not been going fast enough for it to be able to spin up and power everything needed quickly enough.

The thing is, if the problem is a failure in the electrical control and distribution systems instead of a failure of the electric power source, the RAT will deploy. But probably not do much to help. Even if the engines spooled back, both generators were almost certainly still spinning enough to output power. Or failing that the emergency battery kicks in.

I saw one airline mechanic speculating that between the extremely hot weather and AI's notorious approach to maintenance, there likely was a steady buildup of electrical problems in the plane, before they finally overheated one of the electronics bays and fried something major while they were sitting on the tarmac.

 

[Not A Cat Person]

The RAT is a constant speed, variable pitch system. It will spin at the correct speed, probably some multiple of 400Hz, as long the plane is above stall speed. The RAT is designed to generate enough electrical power and hydraulic flow to run the flight controls and engines. Whether it was actually able to do so is different, maintenance-related, question.

Apparently at slower speeds it takes some time to spool up all the way- I saw people speculating 20 seconds or so but who knows if that's true. The cruising speed of one of those airplanes is like 500 knots. Below 100 a RAT apparently won't generate enough power. The liftoff speed of a 787 is about 140-150 knots. So if the plane's already not going that fast and is rapidly slowing down because some system failed and the engines aren't working right, it might take too long for the RAT to spin up to supplement whatever was busted before the plane crashed- assuming whatever system was busted wasn't so busted that having a RAT trying to give it juice wouldn't make a difference anyway.

I saw one airline mechanic speculating that between the extremely hot weather and AI's notorious approach to maintenance, there likely was a steady buildup of electrical problems in the plane, before they finally overheated one of the electronics bays and fried something major while they were sitting on the tarmac.

Apparently the air conditioning wasn't even functioning as the plane baked in direct sunlight out there on the tarmac for well over an hour on a day that was 40c/104f in the shade. Imagine being crammed into a metal tube packed with hundreds of sweaty Indians, slow-cooking in shit-and curry-stinking miasma. At that point dying in a plane crash would be a mercy.

 

[1Tonka_Truck]

Apparently at slower speeds it takes some time to spool up all the way- I saw people speculating 20 seconds or so but who knows if that's true. The cruising speed of one of those airplanes is like 500 knots. Below 100 a RAT apparently won't generate enough power. The liftoff speed of a 787 is about 140-150 knots

At 120kn a 787 is falling out of the sky regardless of flap position or weight. The 787s RAT not generating full hydraulic power below that speed is a not even a secondary issue. It shouldn't take more than a few seconds for a constant speed, variable pitch RAT to spool up. If it wasn't spooled we wouldn't hear it in the video.

 

[KiwiFuzz2]

So fill me in, spergs:

Pilot error
Maintenance error
Boeing error
Act of God
Act of Allah

 

[lichen]

Still TBD. Last update to my knowledge is the black box is being sent to the US for analysis. As I understand it there's a few unconfirmed reports of various things floating around but they're neither reliable nor smoking guns, just things like "the cockpit recordings have been reviewed and they seem to confirm the pilots were on the ball."

Not really sure how long a preliminary reports usually takes with things like this but I'm eagerly awaiting more information.

 

[Escalating Violence]

I fly for vacation in a few days and stories of plane crashes happening soon before always get me worries if the plane I'll be flying will ever have that happen. Thankfully it won't be jeets flying for me.

 

[08903248752]

So fill me in, spergs:

Pilot error
Maintenance error
Boeing error
Act of God
Act of Allah

The fuel was contaminated. Principally with human fecal matter.

Whether the fuel supplier's google play card was redeemed or not remains in question.

 

[Oxyjen]

Doesn’t India get cut price jet fuel from Russia, smuggled in dark fleet tankers that comply with zero laws and regulations?

 

[Fapcop]

Doesn’t India get cut price jet fuel from Russia, smuggled in dark fleet tankers that comply with zero laws and regulations?

No.

Sure, they do get oil and gas from Russia (Not at “cut price”. It’s a little cheaper than market rates, but higher than the price ceiling they came up with after the war in Ukraine broke out.)

They refine most of it themselves and sell it at a profit to Europe.

As for Russia’s “shadow fleet”, despite the oh so nefarious name, all it means is: “Ship that hasn’t been insured in London.”

Russias “shadow fleet”=Insurance is bought in Russia or Hong Kong.

But yeah, fuel contamination has been one cause of the crash.

The only question is: Why would it apparently only affect that plane?

 

[Apteryx Retardi]

My personal speculation is that Air India maintenance is just so bad that some system or systems that should have been fixed/cleaned/replaced ages ago simply never were, or were done improperly by poorly-trained, low-IQ Turks or 'jeets. Not pilot error, bad fuel, environmental factors, or inherent airplane design problem.

If I had to bet, my money would be on that, plus some critical safety feature/failsafe/etc bypassed/hotwired/whatever in typical Indian "lifehack" manner.

 

[BelUwUga]

But yeah, fuel contamination has been one cause of the crash.

The only question is: Why would it apparently only affect that plane?

So a (potential) confounding factor is this airport is equipped with pipeline fuel delivery. It stands to reason that general contamination would affect more than one aircraft. However, this doesn't exclude localized problems like say a piece of debris dislodging at the wrong time and this plane was unlucky recipient. Just because the airport has this service doesn't mean it is exclusive or comprehensive. The gate this aircraft parked at could have had its pipeline fueling out of service for some kind of issue. Alternatively the airline might choose to order fuel trucks as it may work out to be cheaper than through the airport. This type of aircraft on this route has a fuel load that exceeds what a single tanker truck can deliver.

 

[RodgerDodger]

The problem with fuel contamination is it doesn't normally effect both engines at the same time. One engine would typically fail before the other. So you would see some maneuvering to restore balance.

It's the failure at the exact same time, and that straight as an arrow, perfectly level flight trajectory that is really weird here.

 

[Not A Cat Person]

Another random Youtube commenter has something to say that I thought was notable.


tl;dr: they reckon a catastrophic failure of part of the electrical system caused a particular safety valve to shut that stops fuel to the engines in the event of a crash, prior to the crash. They also reckon the pilots had attempted to retract the landing gear but were unable to because various systems that are needed for that had failed.

 

[Silence of the Troons]

Pilot Debrief has dropped his video on Air India 171.

 

[Not A Cat Person]

Pilot Debrief has dropped his video on Air India 171.

TL;DW: the plane didn't use the full length of the runway to take off as has been reported, they simply requested the full runway is as normal procedure for a large aircraft like that. He reckons they only used about 75% of it which is normal.

India's equivalent of the FAA claims they inspected Air India's 787 fleet and found no major concerns. I don't necessarily buy it or trust their inspections but that's the official story of the jeets who are trying to cover their asses.

There's a video of a passenger on board the flight in question showing that the touchscreens and various passenger comfort features weren't working but he reckons that doesn't necessarily mean the plane had other problems- and the engines can keep going without power anyway because of big permanent-magnet generators and independent automatic computer control of each one.

He discounts the idea that the pilots accidentally adjusted the flaps instead of the landing gear because in the airplane cockpit the two controls are not similarly shaped or close to each other. He also discounts the idea of fuel contamination.

He brings up another theory about something called the EEC or electronic engine control module: this is a computer that controls the speed of the engines basically. It's supposed to be set up with 'ground mode' and 'flight mode' among other things, and to automatically switch over from one to the other once the plane is airborne. In the event this system just completely fails and goes black, the engines keep going as they were or even increase thrust. However if there was a failure in this system that caused it to not register that the plane had taken off, remaining in 'ground mode' while in the air could potentially cause the system to automatically cut power to the engines down to idle. He does not believe this for the main reason that the RAT wouldn't have deployed in this case.

His main working theory that he posits here is that one of the engines failed around the point of takeoff, and in their confusion the pilots accidentally shut off fuel flow to the remaining good engine instead of to the failed one.

 

[Silence of the Troons]

A Youtuber user pointed out something interesting in the comments section of Mentour Pilot's recent video about Malaysia Airlines 17.

Spoiler: Video