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Boeing expresses condolences and support after Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed near Ahmedabad. The flight was en route to London.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, including its 787-8 variant, is a twin-engine, wide-body jet airliner designed for safe and efficient operation. (Representational image)
Boeing On Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft involved in the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 near Ahmedabad, on Thursday issued a statement expressing condolences and extending support to Air India and investigators.
In a post shared on social media platform X, Boeing Airplanes said: “We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected.”
We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected. pic.twitter.com/kYrdKyvl7z— Boeing Airplanes (@BoeingAirplanes) June 12, 2025
Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg said, “Our deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171, as well as everyone affected in Ahmedabad. I have spoken with Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran to offer our full support, and a Boeing team stands ready to support the investigation led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.”
The airline said it will defer to India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to provide information about Air India Flight 171, in adherence with the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization.
The statement came after a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport shortly after take-off. The flight was en route to London with over 200 passengers and crew on board. All 242 passengers are feared to have been killed in the crash.
In an earlier brief statement, Boeing had said it was aware of initial reports of the plane crash in Ahmedabad and working to gather more information even as the company’s shares tumbled nearly 9% in a pre-market trading.
“We are aware of initial reports and are working to gather more information,” Boeing said in the brief statement.
The crash comes days before the opening of the Paris Air Show, a major aviation expo where Boeing and European rival Airbus will showcase their aircraft and battle for jet orders from airline customers.
Boeing has been mired in financial and regulatory trouble for more than six years after Lion Air Flight 610, a Boeing 737 Max 8, plunged into the Java Sea off the coast of Indonesia in late 2018, killing all 189 people on board. Five months later, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 Max 8, crashed after take-off from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing 157 passengers and crew.
Boeing seemed to finally be emerging from the deep hole it was in after that pair of crashes, but that now appears to be short-lived.
Last month, Boeing announced a pair of major orders in the Middle East during a visit to the region by President Donald Trump. Boeing shares were up close to 25 per cent this year before Thursday’s crash.
The Air India Flight AI171 Crash Incident
The London-bound Boeing aircraft crashed five minutes after it took off from the Ahmedabad airport for the London Gatwick. In a possibly dual-engine failure, the aircraft lost altitude in a residential area near the airport and crashed on a residential building for doctors.
All 242 passengers are feared to have been killed in the crash.
On the doctors building, the FAIMA Doctors Association said many MBBS students were having lunch at the hostel mess when the plane crashed into the building. The wife of a resident doctor was reported to be dead even as four to five MBBS students and three to four relatives of resident doctors are missing. While two to three students are in intensive care, at least 50 students, who were hospitalised, are stable as of now, it added.
Air India confirmed that flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an accident today after take-off. The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals.
Air India confirms that flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an accident today after take-off.The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Of these, 169 are…
— Air India (@airindia) June 12, 2025
The pilot of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner issued a ‘Mayday’ distress call, denoting a full emergency, soon after take-off, the Air Traffic Control at Ahmedabad said.
Air India also set up a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 to provide more information.
“Air India is giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident,” the airline said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, meanwhile, spoke to Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu and Home Minister Amit Shah to take stock of the situation.
“The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected,” Modi wrote in a post on X.
(With inputs from agencies)
Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to markets, economy and companies. Having a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris has been previously asso…Read More
Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to markets, economy and companies. Having a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris has been previously asso… Read More
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