A London-bound Air India flight carrying 242 people crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, western India, on Thursday morning, resulting in a devastating scene near the city’s airport.
Flight AI171, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was en route to London Gatwick when it issued a mayday call moments after take-off. According to Flightradar24, a flight tracking website, the last signal from the aircraft was received at just 625 feet (190 meters), mere seconds after it left the runway.
The aircraft crashed in a densely populated residential area, causing a large blaze and widespread panic among residents. Videos shared on social media and by local news outlets show thick black smoke billowing into the sky, with emergency services battling flames and searching for survivors amid smoldering wreckage.
According to Air India, the plane was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese citizens. Authorities have not yet confirmed the number of casualties or survivors. Emergency responders, including firefighters, police, and medical personnel, are still at the scene.
A BBC correspondent in Ahmedabad described the aftermath as “shocking,” with twisted metal, debris, and scattered personal belongings littering the crash site. Residents in the area say the plane clipped several buildings before erupting into flames.
Eyewitnesses reported a loud explosion, followed by intense heat and smoke. “It felt like the ground shook,” said one resident, whose home is just a few blocks from the crash site. “We ran out thinking it was an earthquake.”
Local hospitals have been placed on high alert, and a crisis management team from Air India is being dispatched. The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a full investigation to determine the cause of the crash, which occurred in clear weather conditions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on X (formerly Twitter), calling the crash “deeply distressing” and assuring that rescue efforts are ongoing.
As families await news of their loved ones, the nation watches with heavy hearts, mourning what is being described as one of the worst aviation disasters in recent Indian history.
