An Air India flight bound for London Gatwick crashed into a doctor’s hostel near Ahmedabad airport this afternoon, shortly after takeoff. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight 171, was carrying 242 people on board—including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese citizens along with two pilots and 10 cabin crew members.
The aircraft issued a mayday call moments after takeoff but lost communication with air traffic control when it reached an altitude of 625 feet, according to data from FlightRadar. Seconds later, the signal was lost completely. The plane then crashed into a densely populated residential area, causing panic and chaos on the ground.
“It’s devastating everyone is running, trying to save as many lives as possible,” reported BBC correspondent Roxy Gagdekar from the crash site. Emergency crews, residents, and volunteers are working together to rescue survivors and manage the aftermath of the crash.
In an official statement on social media platform X, Air India chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran confirmed the tragic incident:
“With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating from Ahmedabad was involved in a tragic accident today.
Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event.
At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families.
We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted.”
An emergency centre has been set up, and support teams are working to provide information and assistance to the families of passengers and crew members.
More details are expected as rescue and recovery efforts continue. The cause of the crash is currently unknown and will be the subject of an official investigation.
https://x.com/MeghUpdates/status/1933090267310985546
https://x.com/i/status/1933090267310985546
