Tragedy struck in Ahmedabad, India, this afternoon when an Air India flight bound for London Gatwick crashed just moments after takeoff.
Flight AI171, carrying over 240 people, crashed into a residential area, sending a massive plume of black smoke into the sky. The airline has called the incident a “tragic accident,” and authorities are investigating the cause.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.39pm local time, but less than a minute later, its signal was lost. The aircraft, which had a full complement of 230 passengers and 10 crew members, was supposed to land at London Gatwick at 6.25pm BST. Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 showed the plane reached an altitude of just 625ft (190m) before disappearing from radar.
Air traffic control received a mayday call, but no further communication was received from the plane. Moments later, the aircraft crashed into the Meghani Nagar area of Ahmedabad, sparking a fire and triggering an immediate emergency response. A large number of ambulances, fire engines, and rescue teams were swiftly dispatched to the crash site.
The passenger list included 53 British nationals, 169 Indian nationals, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese citizens. The aircraft was heavily fueled for its long-haul journey, which may have intensified the fire and complicated rescue efforts.
“The plane’s fuel load contributed to the intensity of the explosion and fire,” aviation experts said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, were briefed on the situation and dispatched to Ahmedabad to assist in the aftermath. Gujarat’s Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel confirmed that an emergency medical response was set up for the injured passengers, while also offering support to their families, reported BBC News, France24, and Times of India.
Air India Chairperson Natarajan Chandrasekaran expressed his deepest condolences, stating, “Our thoughts are with the families of those affected. We are doing everything we can to support the emergency teams on the ground.”
A crisis centre has been activated, and efforts are underway to provide families with updates.
Authorities, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), have launched an investigation into the crash. The investigation will look at the technical aspects of the accident and gather crucial evidence from the crash site.
As of now, all operations at Ahmedabad’s airport have been suspended, and flight schedules remain disrupted.
More to follow.
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