In a devastating aviation disaster, an Air India aircraft carrying 242 people crashed near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Thursday. The aircraft, operating as Flight AI171, was en route to London Gatwick when it went down shortly after takeoff in the Meghaninagar area—a densely populated residential locality.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, tail number VT-ANB, took off from runway 23 at 1:38 PM. Just moments after takeoff, the pilot issued a distress (Mayday) call to Air Traffic Control (ATC). However, communication with the aircraft was lost immediately afterward. Within minutes, the plane crashed just outside the airport perimeter, producing a massive plume of smoke visible for several kilometers.
Fire and rescue teams rushed to the scene, and several National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) units were deployed for emergency operations. The crash has raised fears of significant casualties and damage, as the aircraft went down in a residential area.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the flight was being piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with First Officer Clive Kundar, and included 10 cabin crew members among the 242 onboard.
Air India has officially confirmed the crash, stating that the airline is actively assessing the situation. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has left for Ahmedabad to oversee rescue and relief operations. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke with the Gujarat CM and the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner to take stock of the situation and assured central support.
Media reports have claimed that former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the passengers, though this has yet to be officially confirmed. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, and authorities are yet to release details on the extent of casualties or the possible cause of the crash.