An Air India passenger plane, flight AI171, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad, leading to fears of casualties among passengers and locals. As rescue operations unfold, authorities mobilize to support families affected by this tragic event.
Tragedy Strikes as Air India Flight Crashes Shortly After Takeoff from Ahmedabad
Tragedy Strikes as Air India Flight Crashes Shortly After Takeoff from Ahmedabad
The Air India flight AI171 bound for London Gatwick crashed just moments after leaving Ahmedabad, resulting in potential casualties among the 240 passengers on board.
An Air India passenger flight bound for London Gatwick met with tragedy today, crashing shortly after its departure from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, western India. The flight, AI171, took off at 13:39 local time (08:09 GMT) but faced a catastrophic failure just after leaving the ground.
Flight tracking data indicates that signals from the aircraft were lost less than a minute into its flight, with reports suggesting it was descending from an altitude of 625 feet when it issued a mayday call. The aircraft subsequently crashed into Meghani Nagar, a residential area, reportedly impacting a doctors' hostel. Eyewitness accounts detail harrowing scenes, with residents rushing to aid those trapped, as emergency responders work to control a fire and conduct search efforts.
The police chief of Ahmedabad has expressed grave concern, indicating that "there appear to be no survivors" and confirming that the crash site may have caused fatalities among local residents. However, official casualty numbers are yet to be released as first responders continue their operations to locate victims.
Onboard the flight were 242 individuals comprising both passengers and crew, which included 53 British nationals, 169 Indian nationals, alongside a few others from Canada and Portugal. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner—a model that has flown millions safely—was attempting its routine route from India to the UK.
Air India's chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, acknowledged the distressing incident, assuring the public of the airline's cooperation with authorities in the ongoing investigation. The Civil Aviation Ministry is prioritizing rapid response over the situation, directing all aviation emergency teams to lend their full support to rescue operations.
Condolences and messages of support have flooded in from both Indian and UK officials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the crash, noting the heartbreak it brings, while UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the scenes from Ahmedabad as devastating. Efforts are being made to provide aid and information to families affected by this tragedy.
As investigations progress, both local authorities and Air India are poised to provide further updates regarding the response and recovery from this unfortunate incident.
