Key Facts
On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171 crashed just 32 seconds after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, killing 260 people, including 19 on the ground. Only one passenger survived. The aircraft struck the Atulyam hostel buildings and parts of the adjacent ICMR-National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) campus.
Details of the Crash and Aftermath
One year later, the crash site remains a stark reminder of the devastation. The four Atulyam hostel buildings stand vacant, their walls blackened with soot, windows broken, and concrete exposed. Trees in the compound are charred, and weeds have overgrown debris. Local ragpicker Ashaben Parmar still finds fragments of the aircraft during her daily rounds. A banner near the site announces a prayer meeting for Akash Sureshbhai Patani, a teenager killed on the ground.
An anonymous scientist at ICMR-NIOH recalled the horror: after hearing a loud blast, he saw the hostel complex engulfed in flames. He witnessed severed body parts and limbs scattered across the campus. A person on a motorbike was caught in the crash, and the impact threw him and his bike over the wall into the institute campus.
Rescue and Community Response
Institute staff were among the first responders, with about 150 members joining the rescue within minutes. Firefighters from the airport used CO2 to control the blaze. Contractor Kishor Thakur, who lived 300 meters away, reached the site in 20 minutes and helped rescue three doctors and their families. He also helped remove exploding cylinders from the hostel.
The death toll on the ground could have been higher if not for a clearing drive weeks earlier that moved 40-50 slum families away from the impact zone. Parmar herself narrowly escaped death by stepping away to a water stall seconds before the crash.
Impact on the Community
Bhavesh Modi, director at ICMR-NIOH, said staff quarters near the crash site caused prolonged distress. A yagnya was organized for the deceased and for the well-being of families. Even the sound of aircraft overhead unsettled people for a long time.
Compensation and Rebuilding Plans
Air India announced interim compensation of ₹25 lakh per family, and the Tata Group provided an ex-gratia payment of ₹1 crore for each deceased victim. The Gujarat government plans to demolish and rebuild the hostel complex at a cost of ₹103 crore, with ₹53 crore contributed by the Tata Group.
FAQ
How many people died in the Air India Flight 171 crash?
A total of 260 people died, including 19 on the ground. One passenger survived.
What compensation has been provided to the victims' families?
Air India announced interim compensation of ₹25 lakh per family, while the Tata Group provided an ex-gratia payment of ₹1 crore for each deceased victim.
What is the plan for the damaged hostel buildings?
The Gujarat government plans to demolish and rebuild the hostel complex at a cost of ₹103 crore, with ₹53 crore contributed by the Tata Group.