An Air India flight bound for London, carrying 242 passengers, has crashed during take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Black smoke billowed from the crash site in a populated area near the airport in Ahmedabad, GujaratPrime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state. Firefighters extinguished the smoking wreckage and adjacent multistory buildings, while first responders recovered charred bodies.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as “devastating,” noting the significant number of British nationals aboard. Indian television reports indicated the plane crashed atop a medical college hostel’s dining area, though it remained unclear if students were present.
Update:
“It appears there are no survivors,” Police Commissioner G.S. Malik told The Associated Press. “The crash occurred in a residential area with offices, potentially causing local casualties.”
Modi called the incident “heartbreaking beyond words,” expressing solidarity with those affected.
The airline reported 242 passengers, including 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. Aviation director Faiz Ahmed Kidwai specified the Boeing 787-8 crashed in Meghani Nagar five minutes after takeoff at 1:38 p.m. local time.
This marks the first recorded crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, introduced in 2009, with over 1,000 aircraft delivered worldwide. Boeing acknowledged awareness of the incident and committed to gathering more information.
Air India’s chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran emphasized supporting affected families, establishing an emergency center to provide information and assistance.
The UK government pledged comprehensive support, with Cabinet minister Lucy Powell expressing deep sympathy. Britain’s substantial Indian diasporanearly 1.9 million peopleheightens the incident’s emotional impact.
A tragic aviation accident unfolded this afternoon as Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff, with 244 people on board, including 232 passengers and 12 crew members.
The aircraft departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at approximately 1:38 PM IST. Within moments of departure, the flight crew reportedly issued a MAYDAY distress call after the plane reached a low cruising altitude of just 625 feet. Radar contact was lost shortly thereafter.
The aircraft went down in the Meghani Nagar area, a densely populated neighborhood close to the airport. Plumes of black smoke were visible from several kilometers away, and multiple buildings in the vicinity were damaged.
Emergency crews are on the scene, and investigations are underway by airport authorities and the DGCA.
Emergency services, including fire crews, ambulances, and disaster response teams, were dispatched immediately. Authorities have since suspended all airport operations at Ahmedabad International as recovery efforts and a full investigation get underway.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have both launched probes into the incident, alongside internal inquiries by Air India.
Air India confirmed that the flight was captained by Sumeet Sabharwal, a senior pilot with over 8,200 flight hours, assisted by Co-pilot Clive Kundar, who had logged approximately 1,100 hours.
As of now, no official statement has been released regarding casualties or survivors. The status of passengers and crew is still being verified.
This is one of the most serious aviation incidents in India in recent years. Leaders across the political and aviation sectors have expressed their condolences. Social media is filled with messages of support and prayers for those affected by the tragedy
Historically, India’s last major passenger plane crash occurred in 2020 when an Air India Express Boeing-737 skidded off a runway, killing 21 people. The worst air disaster remains the 1996 mid-air collision near Charki Dadri, claiming 349 lives.
The crash precedes the Paris Air Show, potentially influencing Boeing’s reputation. The company has been recovering from previous incidents, including the 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019.
Boeing’s shares tumbled nearly 9% before U.S. market opening, reflecting market sensitivity to the tragic event.
