Ahmedabad (TDI): A London-bound Air India flight crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on Thursday, leaving dozens feared dead and many others injured in what is being described as one of the worst air tragedies in recent years.
Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, departed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at around 1:38 PM local time. Within a minute of take-off, communication was lost, and the plane went down in a densely populated area near the airport.
The aircraft was carrying 242 individuals, including 230 passengers, two pilots, and ten cabin crew members. Rescue officials working at the scene reported recovering at least 30 bodies from the remains of a damaged building struck by the plane. Many more people are believed to be trapped under the debris, and emergency efforts are ongoing.
The airline confirmed the crash through a statement on social media, saying it was “fully cooperating with the authorities.” Air India also released a helpline number 1800 5691 444 for families seeking information about passengers.
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Among those on board were nationals of several countries: 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. The nationalities of a dozen others have yet to be verified.
Television footage from the crash site showed thick smoke billowing from burning wreckage. Paramedics could be seen rushing victims to hospitals while firefighters struggled to contain the flames.
The incident has drawn international attention. Former Pakistani foreign minister and Pakistan People Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed sorrow over the loss of life, offering condolences to the people of India. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also responded, calling the images from Ahmedabad “devastating” and offering support to the families affected.
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Gatwick Airport in London, where the plane was scheduled to arrive later in the day, confirmed the flight had been expected and said updates would follow.
According to flight data from Flightradar24, the jet lost signal less than 60 seconds after taking off.
This is not the first time Air India has faced such tragedy. In 2020, an Air India Express flight skidded off the runway in Kozhikode, killing 21 people. In 2010, a crash in Mangalore left 159 dead. Perhaps the most catastrophic event in India’s aviation history occurred in 1996 when two planes collided mid-air near Delhi, killing all 349 on board.
As the investigation begins, families across multiple countries await news about their loved ones, hoping against the odds for survivors.
