A London-bound Air India flight crashed just minutes after departing from Ahmedabad on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of at least 110 individuals and injuring several more, according to authorities.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew — including 217 adults and 11 children — lost control shortly after taking off at 1:39 PM local time. It crashed into a densely inhabited area near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft, registered as VT-ANB, had issued a “Mayday” distress signal to Air Traffic Control before all communication was lost.
Read more: Fear of Fatalities as Air India Flight Crashes During Take-Off in Ahmedabad
Officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reported that the aircraft veered off its flight path, crashing just beyond the runway into a residential building, later identified as a doctor’s hostel. Emergency responders quickly arrived on the scene as fire and smoke engulfed the area, initiating a full-scale rescue operation.
A senior police official stated that 70–80% of the area had been cleared and most of the building’s occupants had been evacuated. The passenger list included 169 Indian citizens, 53 from the UK, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. Reports suggest that former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani may have been on board, though his condition remains unknown.
Local media broadcast scenes of chaos, with burning wreckage and thick smoke in the Meghani Nagar area. Rescue teams were seen carrying injured victims on stretchers to nearby medical facilities.
Air India released a statement expressing deep sorrow over the crash:
“We are heartbroken by this tragic accident. Emergency protocols were launched immediately. The injured are being treated at nearby hospitals. Further information will follow.”
Flight tracking service Flightradar24 revealed that the plane’s signal disappeared shortly after take-off, indicating a sudden catastrophic event. Boeing acknowledged the incident and stated they are gathering details.
As a precaution, all flight operations at Ahmedabad Airport were temporarily halted.
