In a devastating incident on Thursday afternoon, an Air India plane bound for London crashed just minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, leaving hundreds of families in shock and grief.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 people on board, was en route to Gatwick Airport in the UK when it issued a distress “Mayday” call and lost contact with air traffic control moments later.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror as the plane, flying low over a residential area, suddenly disappeared behind buildings before a massive fireball erupted in the sky. Television footage showed debris on fire, thick black smoke, and people being carried away on stretchers. Emergency crews and ambulances rushed to the crash site, which authorities confirmed to be a doctors’ hostel building near the airport.
“We have cleared almost 70% to 80% of the site. Rescue operations are ongoing,” said a senior police official.
The ill-fated flight carried 217 adults, 11 children, and 14 crew members. Air India later confirmed that the nationalities included 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian. Gujarat state police control room and ANI reported a total of 242 onboard.
What we know so far
The aircraft, bearing registration VT-ANB, departed from runway 23 at 1:39 p.m. local time (0809 GMT). Within seconds of takeoff, it sent out an emergency signal before going silent. Flightradar24, an aviation tracking platform, confirmed that its last signal was received moments after takeoff.
Air India posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates. The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals.”
International and national response
The crash has sent ripples across both India and the UK. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose home state is Gujarat, has directed all relevant agencies to prioritize rescue and relief efforts. India’s aviation ministry has suspended flight operations at Ahmedabad airport, now under lockdown.
The British Foreign Office stated it is working closely with Indian authorities to verify the situation and support those impacted. Meanwhile, Tata Group, which owns Air India, has set up an emergency centre to assist families.
Gautam Adani, whose conglomerate manages the Ahmedabad airport, posted: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragedy of Air India Flight 171. Our hearts go out to the families who have suffered an unimaginable loss.”
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, considered one of the most modern jets in service. Boeing said it was aware of the incident and is gathering more information. Following the crash, Boeing shares dropped by nearly 7% in premarket U.S. trading.
This tragedy is India’s worst since the 2020 crash involving Air India Express in Kozhikode, where 21 people lost their lives after a plane overshot a table-top runway and plunged into a valley.
