A devastating plane crash occurred in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, where an Air India passenger plane with 242 people on board crashed shortly after taking off from the airport. The incident has left a trail of destruction and loss of life, with images from the scene showing thick black smoke rising into the sky and part of the aircraft resting on top of a building.
According to reports, the plane was bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, where it was due to land at 6:25 p.m. local time. The flight, AI171, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national. The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals for treatment.
Eyewitnesses described the moment the aircraft, gaining altitude after taking off, suddenly began to descend in mid-air before crashing down in a huge plume of fire and smoke. The plane made a Mayday call to Air Traffic Control shortly after takeoff, but no response was given to the calls made by ATC.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation stated that the aircraft fell on the ground outside the airport perimeter, and heavy black smoke was seen coming from the accident site. Aviation tracker FlightRadar24 reported that the plane, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, departed from Ahmedabad International airport at 1:38 p.m. local time and lost signal less than a minute later at an altitude of 625 feet.
The city police commissioner confirmed that there appeared to be no survivors from the crashed plane. A senior police officer reported that the plane had hit a doctors’ hostel, and responders are hosing down the area. The injured are being treated at nearby hospitals, and authorities are working to contain the situation.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his shock and sadness over the incident, describing it as “heartbreaking beyond words.” He added that he was in touch with the authorities involved in the disaster. Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Air India, said that Air India Flight AI171 had been involved in a “tragic accident” and that they were doing everything in their power to assist the emergency response teams.
The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the scenes as “devastating” and said he was being kept updated as the situation develops. He added that his thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time. The UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that British nationals were on board and that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office was working urgently with local authorities to support British nationals and their families.
The incident has led to the suspension of all flights out of Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport until further notice. Passengers are advised to check with their respective airlines for the latest updates before proceeding to the airport. The authorities are working to manage the situation, and an investigation into the cause of the crash is likely to follow.
This tragic incident marks the first involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft first entered service in 2011. With over 1,175 Dreamliners in service, accounting for 2,100 flights each day, the aviation industry will be closely watching the investigation into this incident.
