Tragedy In Ahmedabad: Over 200 Feared Dead After Air India Plane Crashes Into Residential Area

 

More than 200 people are feared dead after an Air India flight en route to London crashed into a residential neighborhood in Ahmedabad, India, shortly after takeoff on Thursday afternoon.

The aircraft, Flight AI171, had just departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport when it issued a Mayday call before disappearing from radar. Moments later, it plummeted into a densely populated area, triggering a massive fire and sending black smoke billowing into the sky.

Footage from the scene showed part of the plane resting atop a building, with charred trees and fire-blackened structures nearby. Emergency responders worked to extinguish the flames and search for any possible survivors.

According to local authorities, the plane was carrying 242 passengers and crew. City Police Commissioner G.S. Malik said there were believed to be no survivors from the flight. He also warned that casualties on the ground were likely, as the crash occurred near office buildings and a doctors' hostel.

“We are still ascertaining the total number of casualties,” Malik said.

Air India confirmed the nationalities of those on board: 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian. A reception center has been established at London’s Gatwick Airport, where the flight had been scheduled to land at 6:25 p.m. local time.

A video taken by a bystander captured the final moments of the aircraft’s flight, showing it gaining altitude before suddenly nosediving and erupting in flames.

According to India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft departed at 1:39 p.m. local time, made an emergency call shortly after takeoff, and then ceased communication. The plane’s transponder signal was lost less than a minute into the flight, at an altitude of just 625 feet.

Flight data from FlightRadar24 indicated the aircraft began descending with a vertical speed of -475 feet per minute, suggesting a rapid and uncontrollable fall.

Following the crash, all flights in and out of Ahmedabad’s airport were suspended. Airport authorities have urged passengers to check with airlines for updates.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy, calling it “heartbreaking beyond words.” He said he is in constant contact with authorities overseeing the response.

Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran acknowledged the crash as a “tragic accident” and said the airline is “doing everything in our power to assist emergency teams and support affected families.”

In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as “devastating,” adding, “My thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time.”

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that British nationals were on board and that crisis teams have been activated in both London and Delhi to assist families.

This crash is especially significant as it marks the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft entered service in 2011. According to Boeing, over 1,175 Dreamliners are currently in use globally, completing more than 2,100 flights daily.

As rescue efforts continue and investigations begin, the full scope of the tragedy is still unfolding in what has become one of the worst aviation disasters in India in recent years.