Ahmedabad plane crash: Over 125 Gujaratis including NRIs lost lives in fateful accident

Ahmedabad witnessed a historical tragedy on June 12, 2025 that will always be embedded in the hearts of people as “one of  the world’s most tragic airplane crashes”. 

The fateful Air India Flight 171 became a death note for 241 travellers and other people as it crashed into Ahmedabad’s B J Medical boys hostel on Thursday afternoon, soon after take-off.

At least 125 Gujaratis were charred to death in the Ahmedabad plane crash accident.

Plane crash victims from Ahmedabad

A couple from Keliya Vasna village in Dholka lost their lives as well. Vaibhav Rasikbhai Patel and his wife Jinal Vaibhavbhai Patel, who had been living in London for several years, had returned to Ahmedabad for Jinal’s baby shower ceremony due to her pregnancy. The ceremony was held on Thursday, June 5, 2025. The couple was returning to London that very day when the fatal crash occurred.

Roger David Christian and his wife Rachna Roger Christian, a UK-based couple who visited the city to meet their family in Chandkheda.

The couple, both in their late 30s, were the son and daughter-in-law of retired irrigation department officer Davidbhai Christian, a long-time resident of Ahmedabad. The family is now engulfed in grief following the sudden loss.

Another Ahmedabad resident, a family of four from Khanpur were also among victims.

Inayat Ali Saiyed, his wife Nafeesabanu Saiyed, their daughter Taskinbanu Saiyed, and nephew Vaki Ali Saiyed came to Ahmedabad nearly three months ago to celebrate Eid and spend time with Ali's elderly mother.

Doctor couple from Surat 

Among the deceased were eight people from Surat. Prominent doctor Dr Hitesh Shah, who previously ran Smit Hospital in the Adajan area, was travelling with his wife Dr Amita Shah to visit their children in London. Jayesh Gondaliya and Ankit Chodvadiya, both from Puna village in Surat, were also onboard the ill-fated flight.

Family came to India for Eid celebration 

In addition, British citizen Aqil Abdul Nanabhai, who was in Rampura, Surat with his family to celebrate Eid, also died along with his wife and 6-year-old daughter in the crash.

New beginnings turned to ashes

Vibhuti Atulkumar Patel from Umbhel village in Kamrej taluka was travelling to London with her fiancé Hardikkumar Devrajbhai — both lost their lives in the tragedy.

Elderly couple Arjunsinh Vansadiya and his wife Divyaben from Kosamba-Tarsadi in Mangrol taluka were also on their way to visit their children and perished in the crash.

Sainik school trustee dead with family

From Silvassa in the Union Territory, Badaruddin Hasanali Halani (58), a trustee of Sainik School and former chairman of the Gujarat Waqf Board, was travelling with his wife Yasmin and sister-in-law Malekben Rajbali Halani (59) to meet their daughter in London. All three died in the accident, casting a wave of mourning across the Vapi region.

Only one Diu resident survived

Moreover, 15 people from the Union Territory of Diu were also on the flight — 14 of them lost their lives, while one British citizen, Ramesh Vishwaskumar, survived miraculously.

23 passengers from Vadodara among dead 

Among the 23 passengers from Vadodara city who died in the plane crash were 15 women, 8 men, and a two-and-a-half-year-old girl. One of the passengers, a young man named Bhavik Maheshwari, had just gotten engaged two days ago. 

Three women from Modasa dead

Nusratbanu Aminbhai Jethra from Khanjipark Society in Modasa (Aravalli district), Jayshreeben Patel from Khambhisar, and Kailashben Patel from Dhanshyamnagar Society in Bayad. 

Nusratbanu, 35, from Modasa, had returned from London to Modasa a month ago to celebrate Eid. Jayshreeben, from Modasa Taluka, had gotten married in February and was travelling on Thursday’s Air India flight to join her husband in London. Kailashben, who lived in Ghanshyam Society in Bayad, was travelling to London to visit her son, according to sources.

33 people were from Anand

As per reports, 33 passengers were from Anand district’s Borsad, Phangni, Chikhodara, Karamsad, Sojitra, Ramnagar, Khambholj, Umreth, Kasumbad, Gana, Tarapur, and Anand city.

The list includes 15 women and at least one medical doctor. Crowds of grieving relatives rushed to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where government teams are carrying out DNA identification and helping families through the nightmare.

In Kheda district, the toll remains uncertain. However, it is confirmed that Prashant Patel, former president of Kathlal Municipality, who recently joined the BJP, was also among the passengers. People from Nadiad, Mehmadabad, Thasra, and Kathlal were also headed to London.

Nikhil Patel, a bright student from Fogani village in Petlad, was travelling to the UK for higher studies on a student visa. It was his first international trip – one filled with dreams and hope. His life ended before it could begin anew.

Parth Sharma (22), from Tarapur in Anand, had also just secured his student visa to London.

After being dropped off at the airport by family and friends, the same group had only just reached Kheda when they heard the crushing news of the crash. They turned around, and are now engulfed in shock.

Manjula Patel, a mother from Borsad, had spent 10 years trying to get a visa to visit her son and grandchildren in the UK. After 20 visa rejections, her wish was finally granted. But fate was cruel – this long-awaited reunion never happened. Her family says she boarded the flight full of joy. She never made it.

Dirgh Prafulbhai Patel, the younger son of a family from Vadali in Kapadvanj, had come home on a visit barely 25 days ago. A London resident, Dirgh was returning abroad when the crash took his life. His father, an ITI employee, is inconsolable.

Deceased from Saurashtra-Kutch

Ravjibhai Shambhubhai Chovatiya (95), a retired horticulture officer from the Agriculture University, residing in Sridhar Nagar Society, has a son who lives in London. On June 10, Ravjibhai and his wife Sharadaben had arrived  from Junagadh to travel to London.

Rajubhai Jimuliya, a retired BSNL employee residing near a new haveli in Veraval, had a son, daughter-in-law, daughter, and son-in-law living in London. Rajubhai and his wife Bhavnaben left for London from Ahmedabad yesterday for their daughter’s baby shower.

Sureshbhai Dhanjibhai Hirani (Patel), aged 55, from Kodki village in Bhuj taluka, had come to attend a religious festival organised by their sect in the village about a month ago, along with his mother Radhabai (age 85) and grandson Ashwin alias Harrington (age 26), who were all visiting from London. Married grandson Ashwin was taking his mother and grandmother back to London and had boarded the ill-fated flight from Ahmedabad. But never made it.

Rakshaben Modha, her daughter-in-law Yashaben, and grandson Rudra from Porbandar died in the plane crash before they could attend her husband’s memorial prayer service in London.

Hariharbhai Bakshi from Jamnagar, who had been unwell, was visited by his daughter Nehalben and son-in-law Shaileshbhai Parmar, both residents of London. They too passed away in the crash.

Arjunbhai, a native of Vadia in Amreli district, had recently come back from London after the death of his wife to perform post-death rituals and memorial services with relatives. After completing all ceremonies in Vadia, he left to return to London today, but met with the fatal plane crash en route.

North-Gujarat victims

Ratilal Ambalal Patel (71) was excited to meet his son in the UK who just bought a new home and invited his father to visit abroad. Ratilal was among the 241 dead in the AI 171 plane crash.

Among the other passengers who lost their lives in the crash are Dineshkumar Kantilal Patel and his wife Krishnaben Dineshkumar Patel of Visnagar’s Madh area, and Dashrathbhai Joitaram Patel and his wife Dahiben Dashrathbhai Patel of Visnagar’s Fateh Darwaja, and Ankitaben Vasantkumar Patel from the Ganji area, who were all en route to London.

A first-time flyer who lost his life

Dineshkumar had spent his entire life farming. His son, residing in London, had invited his parents for a visit. This was Dineshkumar’s first trip abroad. To celebrate the occasion, his friends hosted a farewell party in the Pindariya fields, where the Hindi film song “Tu Kal Chala Jayega Toh Main Kya Karunga” was played. Little did they know that this would be the last time they saw their friend. His friends had even accompanied him to Ahmedabad airport to see him off.

Newlywed woman was en route to meet her husband

Ankitaben Patel from the Ganji area in Visnagar was travelling to London to meet her husband Vasantkumar Mahendrabhai Patel, who resides there. The couple had married just six months ago. After receiving her visa for London, she was excited to reunite with her husband. Her loved ones bid her an emotional farewell in front of the tall building at Ganji’s corner. None of them could have imagined it would be the final goodbye. The tragic crash has left the Tal Kadva Patidar community in deep sorrow.

Panchmahal victim 

Rupalben, daughter of the late Vishnubhai Patel, had spent her childhood and education years in Halol, where her family lived in Vaishali Society near the bus stand for the past 40 years. She married Pinalbhai Patel from Anand and had been residing in London with her husband since 2009. The couple had three children.

Rupalben had arrived in India on June 3 for medical treatment. After completing her treatment, she boarded the ill-fated flight from Ahmedabad to return to London. Tragically, she lost her life in the crash. Her brother Pavan Patel had dropped her off at Ahmedabad airport and returned to their home in Nadiad. Shortly afterwards, news of the crash reached him, prompting him to rush back to Ahmedabad.