Air India Flight Crash in Ahmedabad: A Tragic Incident Unfolds

The situation is evolving rapidly as details concerning the crash are being revealed.

On Thursday, an Air India passenger aircraft, flight AI171, was headed to London Gatwick when it crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at around 13:39 local time (08:09 GMT). The recent accident has sparked widespread concern as over 240 passengers and crew were aboard the flight, which was expected to land in London at 18:25 BST.

Flight tracking data indicates that the aircraft's signal was lost less than a minute after takeoff, coinciding with an emergency mayday call that went unanswered. The crash occurred in a densely populated area known as Meghani Nagar, where eyewitness reports describe chaos and heavy smoke billowing from the scene. Local emergency services have been deployed in an effort to assist the injured and extinguish fires, with reports suggesting that body retrieval operations are underway.

Authorities, including India’s foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, expressed sorrow over the incident, with Ahmedabad's police chief indicating the grim possibility of no survivors among those onboard and even among local residents. While no official casualty figures have been released, the situation remains dire.

Among the 242 individuals aboard were 53 British nationals, 169 Indian nationals, a Canadian national, and seven Portuguese nationals. Air India confirmed that the injured are being taken to local hospitals, and emergency services have been mobilized at the crash site following directives from Gujarat's chief minister for immediate response efforts. Additionally, efforts are underway to support families of the victims through activated emergency centers.

The aircraft involved was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a model that has been in operation for over a decade. Following this incident, Boeing has expressed its readiness to provide assistance to Air India. The airline has also opened a dedicated hotline for information regarding the flight and is closely collaborating with authorities for investigation purposes.

In the wake of the tragedy, reactions from Indian and UK officials have been profound. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his shock and sadness, while UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer characterized the images from Ahmedabad as devastating. The King and Queen of the UK conveyed their condolences and praised the efforts of first responders.

As the investigation continues, updates will be provided regarding the situation and the condition of the affected individuals.