A devastating incident occurred in Ahmedabad today as Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff at 1:38 PM local time. The aircraft, carrying 242 passengers and crew, went down in a densely populated residential area near the airport, specifically impacting the hostel of B.J. Medical College.
The crash site is located in Meghani Nagar, a residential area on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. According to reports, the plane reached an altitude of only 625 feet (190 meters) before crashing back to the ground. The pilots issued a Mayday alert to air traffic control just before all communications were lost. The impact and resulting fire have caused widespread damage, with images showing thick black smoke billowing from the scene and debris scattered across the area.
Initial reports indicate a dire situation, with rescue workers having recovered between 30 and 35 bodies. No survivors have been reported thus far. The crash into the B.J. Medical College hostel is particularly tragic, with the aircraft reportedly hitting the dining area where students were having lunch. Visuals from the scene depict plates of food left uneaten, underscoring the sudden and horrific nature of the disaster. Casualties are expected to include both passengers and individuals present in and around the hostel at the time of the crash. Medical personnel at the college are among those injured. One doctor at the trauma center stated that 90 people had been admitted so far.
Air India has confirmed the accident and stated that the flight departed from Ahmedabad at 1:38 PM, carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian national, and seven Portuguese nationals. The airline has established a dedicated hotline number, 1800 5691 444, to provide information and assistance to those affected.
The Ahmedabad airport has been closed, and all flight operations have been suspended until further notice. Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the chairman of the Tata Group, which operates Air India, described the event as a "tragic incident" and stated that the company is assisting emergency response teams and providing support to those affected.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow, stating that the tragedy has "stunned and saddened us" and that his thoughts are with everyone affected. He has directed the Ministry of Civil Aviation to provide all possible assistance at the crash site. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu is monitoring the situation and has instructed all relevant agencies to take swift and coordinated action. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also acknowledged the tragic event.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed that the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Runway 23 at 1:39 PM IST. The aircraft was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned pilot with over 8,200 hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours.
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.
