A London-bound Air India flight carrying 242 people crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad early Thursday morning, Indian authorities said.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner issued a Mayday call minutes after departure at 4:53 a.m. local time and plummeted into a nearby residential area, prompting an emergency response involving dozens of firefighters and paramedics. Authorities confirmed the aircraft was en route to London Gatwick and included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian on board.
Air India confirmed the crash via a statement on X (formerly Twitter), stating Flight 171 had been “involved in an incident” and that it was “ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest.” As of the latest report, casualty figures were not released, though officials said multiple survivors were being treated at nearby hospitals.
Boeing, the U.S. manufacturer of the 787 aircraft, said it is “aware of initial reports” and is working closely with Indian aviation authorities. “We are working to gather more information,” a spokesperson told Reuters.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the flight crew made a distress call indicating an onboard technical failure before losing contact with air traffic control. The aircraft crashed within five minutes of takeoff, leaving a trail of fire and debris across a densely populated suburb.
The investigation will be led by Indian authorities, with support expected from both the United States and the United Kingdom under international aviation protocols. “It’s standard for all countries connected to the aircraft’s manufacture, departure, and destination to be involved,” said aviation analyst Richard Quest.
Local officials confirmed the crash site is being secured and black box recovery is underway.
The Prime Minister’s office extended condolences and promised full support for affected families and an expedited investigation into the cause of the crash.
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