Air India Jet Crashes After Takeoff from Ahmedabad, Carrying 242 Passengers
An Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad in western India on Thursday, according to statements from the airline and local police. Authorities have not yet confirmed any fatalities.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, one of the latest models in commercial aviation, was en route to Gatwick Airport in the UK. Air India said the aircraft carried 242 people, including 217 adults and 11 children. A source told Reuters that among those on board were 169 Indian nationals, 43 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian.
The aircraft departed from Ahmedabad airport at 1:39 p.m. local time (0809 GMT) from runway 23. It issued a “Mayday” distress call shortly after takeoff, but air traffic control lost contact soon after. Flight tracking website Flightradar24 confirmed the final signal from the aircraft came just seconds after departure.
Television footage showed the plane ascending over a residential neighborhood before disappearing from view. Moments later, a massive fireball and thick black smoke were seen rising near the airport. Additional visuals captured scenes of burning debris and emergency responders transporting injured passengers on stretchers into ambulances.
The aircraft, identified by its registration number VT-ANB, reportedly crashed in a civilian area close to the airport. Ahmedabad airport has suspended all flight operations until further notice.
Air India posted on social media platform X: “At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose home state is Gujarat, directed the Ministry of Civil Aviation to provide full support for ongoing rescue operations. The aviation minister’s office confirmed that all relevant agencies are on high alert and working in coordination.
Boeing has not yet responded to requests for comment.
This is the first fatal plane crash in India since 2020, when an Air India Express aircraft overshot a runway in Kozhikode and crashed into a valley, killing 21 people.
Air India, formerly state-owned, was acquired by the Tata Group in 2022. It later merged with Vistara, a joint venture between Tata and Singapore Airlines, in 2024. Tata has activated an emergency response center and established a support team to assist families seeking information.
[Reuters]
