Air India Dreamliner Crashes in Ahmedabad; Tollywood Mourns Lives Lost in Tragic Disaster
In a tragic turn of events, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI171, met with a catastrophic accident shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at approximately 1:39 PM IST on June 12, 2025.
The flight, which was en route to London Gatwick, had 242 individuals onboard, comprising 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Among them were 169 Indian nationals, 53 from the UK, 7 Portuguese citizens, and 1 Canadian traveler. Moments into the journey, the aircraft lost control and crashed into the Meghaninagar neighborhood, directly impacting a residential area that included a doctors’ hostel. The crash triggered a massive blaze and sent plumes of smoke into the sky, prompting immediate response from fire and rescue teams.
Initial reports confirm 30 fatalities, but authorities fear the death toll could climb beyond 100, given the scale of destruction in the densely populated locality.
As the nation reels from this aviation tragedy, Tollywood celebrities and public figures have come forward to express their sorrow and extend condolences.
Jr NTR, in a heartfelt post on X, shared:
“Extremely saddened by the crash in Ahmedabad. Thoughts and prayers are with all those affected. Strength to the families and first responders.”
Pawan Kalyan, actor and Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, wrote:
“The heartbreaking news from Ahmedabad has left me deeply shaken. My prayers are with every passenger, crew member, and resident impacted by this tragedy. May families grieving their loved ones find strength and peace.”
Ram Charan echoed the sentiment, posting:
“My heart goes out to everyone affected by the horrific crash. Praying for the families enduring this terrible loss and hoping for swift aid to the injured.”
Veteran actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, expressing his grief in Telugu, said:
“The plane crash that occurred in Gujarat has plunged the entire nation into grief. It is even more heartbreaking that, along with Indians, foreign nationals have also lost their lives. This is a tragedy beyond words. I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased.”
Other members of the Telugu film fraternity, including Varun Tej, Teja Sajja, Sharwanand, Adivi Sesh, Thaman S, and director Gopichand Malineni, have used social media platforms to express their solidarity and grief.
Rescue efforts are ongoing at the crash site as authorities continue damage assessment and recovery. More updates are expected as investigations unfold.
This heartbreaking incident has once again brought attention to flight safety and emergency preparedness, even as citizens unite in mourning those lost and supporting affected families during this difficult time.
