An Air India passenger aircraft en route to London crashed in Ahmedabad, India, shortly after takeoff, according to statements from the airline. The incident involved over 240 passengers and crew aboard the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, which occurred just five minutes after departure at approximately 1:38 PM local time.
The flight, designated as AI Flight 171, had a significant passenger demographic, with 169 individuals hailing from India, alongside 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. Initial reports indicate that the aircraft went down in a residential area known as Meghani Nagar. Immediate emergency services were dispatched, and firefighters worked swiftly to extinguish the flames emanating from the wreckage and a nearby multistorey building.
Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, informed the media that the number of individuals on board may not fully align with Air India’s reported figures, citing a total of 244 aboard the flight. Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu expressed on social media platform X that all possible measures were being thrown into ensuring medical assistance and relief efforts in response to the incident.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is recognized as a state-of-the-art, wide-body twin-engine aircraft, and notably, this crash marks the first incident recorded for the model, as per the Aviation Safety Network’s database. In reaction to the crash, Boeing has acknowledged the situation and is actively working to collect relevant information.
In terms of historical context, India’s aviation sector has faced challenges in the past. The previous major passenger plane incident occurred in 2020, when an Air India Express Boeing 737 accidently skidded off a hilltop runway in the southern region of the country, resulting in 21 fatalities. The deadliest recorded air disaster in India took place on November 12, 1996, involving a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight and a Kazakhstan Airlines flight that collided in midair, tragically resulting in the loss of 349 lives.
Authorities continue to gather information as the situation unfolds, with a focus on ensuring the safety and well-being of those affected. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and risks associated with modern aviation.
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