Air India plane crashes after takeoff in Ahmedadbad with 244 onboard
An Air India passenger plane carrying over 200 people crashed on Thursday after taking off from an airport in Ahmedabad, India. The Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar just five minutes after takeoff at 1:38 p.m. local time. Tragically, there were 242 passengers and crew members onboard the flight.
The Director General of the Directorate of Civil Aviation, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, confirmed the crash and expressed his deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all those affected by the devastating event. Smoke was seen billowing from the crash site near the airport in northwestern India, as the plane issued a distress call to air traffic control before plummeting from the sky.
Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran shared a statement expressing profound sorrow over the accident and emphasizing the airline’s focus on supporting the affected individuals and their families. The airline revealed that of those onboard, 169 were from India, 53 from Britain, 7 from Portugal, and 1 from Canada. The injured passengers are being transported to local hospitals for medical attention.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation, as emergency response teams are working tirelessly to provide support and care to those impacted by the tragedy. London’s Gatwick Airport confirmed that the flight was scheduled to land there at 18:25.
India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, assured that rescue teams have been mobilized and efforts are being made to provide medical aid and relief support at the crash site. The 787 Dreamliner involved in the crash is a widebody, twin-engine aircraft, and this incident marks the first crash ever of a Boeing 787 plane.
Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft, acknowledged the reports of the crash and stated that they are working to gather more information. The tragic event brings to mind the worst air disaster in India’s history, which occurred in 1996 when two planes collided midair near Charki Dadri in Haryana state, resulting in the loss of all 349 individuals onboard.
As this story continues to develop, updates will be provided. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this heartbreaking incident.
