Ahmedabad – Habibullah Khan
A devastating tragedy struck India on Thursday when an Air India Dreamliner en route to London crashed just minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing all 242 people on board. Officials confirmed that there were no known survivors.
The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating as Air India Flight 171, went down in a densely populated area of Meghani Nagar, near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, at approximately 1:44 p.m. local time, just five minutes after its departure.
Crash Site and Rescue Operations
Thick black smoke billowed into the sky as the aircraft, still heavily laden with fuel, plummeted into a residential neighborhood, reportedly crashing on top of the dining area of a medical college hostel. The wreckage set adjacent multistory buildings ablaze, prompting a rapid response from fire crews and emergency personnel. Footage from the scene showed charred bodies strewn across the crash site, with some being carried away by rescue teams.
Indian TV networks broadcast images of the aircraft wreckage lying atop the hostel structure. While it remains unclear whether students were inside at the time, officials fear casualties may also include residents and workers in nearby buildings.
No Survivors Reported
Police Commissioner G.S. Malik told the Associated Press, “It appears there are no survivors in the plane crash. Since the aircraft fell in a residential and office area, local casualties are also likely. We are still working to determine the exact number of victims.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hails from Gujarat, expressed his grief on social media: “The crash is heartbreaking beyond words. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with all those affected.”
Aircraft Details and Passenger Manifest
Air India confirmed that the Gatwick-bound aircraft was carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, 7 Portuguese citizens, and 1 Canadian.
Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director General of Civil Aviation, stated that the aircraft crashed at 1:44 p.m., shortly after departing at 1:38 p.m. He noted that 244 individuals were on board according to DGCA figures—slightly more than Air India’s official count—adding some confusion to initial tallies.
The First Boeing 787 Crash
This tragedy marks the first-ever crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a long-range, widebody jet introduced in 2009. More than 1,000 such aircraft are currently in operation globally.
Boeing released a statement acknowledging awareness of the incident, noting that the company is “working to gather more information.”
Aviation expert John M. Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems, commented that early visual evidence suggests the aircraft’s nose was elevated but it failed to climb, hinting at a possible technical fault during ascent. He emphasized that the aircraft’s black box data would provide critical insights, as the 787 records thousands of flight parameters.
Official and International Responses
Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran expressed deep sorrow, stating: “Our primary focus is on supporting the affected families.” He confirmed that an emergency coordination center had been established and a dedicated support team was in place to assist loved ones.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the crash as “devastating,” especially given the large number of British nationals onboard. British Cabinet Minister Lucy Powell addressed Parliament, stating that the UK would provide “all the support it can” to those impacted, both in the UK and in India.
India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu assured the public that full efforts are underway to provide medical and logistical support at the crash site.
Historical Context
The last major passenger plane accident in India occurred in 2020, when an Air India Express Boeing 737 overshot a runway in Kerala, killing 21 people.
India’s deadliest aviation disaster remains the 1996 mid-air collision between Saudi Arabian and Kazakhstan Airlines near Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, which claimed 349 lives.
This latest crash also comes just days before the Paris Air Show, a major industry event where aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus compete for new airline contracts.
