A devastating plane crash occurred in India on Thursday, involving a Boeing passenger aircraft bound for London. The aircraft, Air India Flight 171, had just taken off from Ahmedabad, a city of approximately 5 million residents, when it tragically crashed into a densely populated residential area. It is feared that all 242 passengers on board perished in the crash, and there are concerns that there may be additional casualties on the ground.
The aircraft had been in the air for a mere 30 seconds before it descended rapidly, as seen in a harrowing video. The Commissioner, G.S. Malik, expressed doubt that there were any survivors from the crash and voiced concern about potential casualties among local residents, as the plane crashed into buildings. The exact number of casualties is still being determined.
Moments after takeoff, the pilot issued a distress call, a “Mayday.” Footage captured the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner descending over the bustling city before it exploded into a massive fireball. Thick black smoke quickly filled the skyline. The aircraft crashed directly into a doctor’s residence, with images showing the rear of the jet protruding from the building.
The crash site was a scene of devastation, with charred bodies scattered around a flattened area of the city. The 242 passengers included 217 adults and 11 children, with 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, according to Air India.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the scenes of the London-bound plane, carrying many British nationals, crashing in Ahmedabad as “devastating.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow, calling the incident “heartbreaking beyond words.” He extended his thoughts to everyone affected in a social media post.
Rescue teams were quickly mobilized, and efforts are underway to provide medical aid and relief support to the crash site, according to India’s aviation minister, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu. Air India’s chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, stated that the airline’s primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families, and assisting the emergency response teams at the site.
Following the crash, all flights were suspended by the Ahmedabad airport. Gatwick airport confirmed that the flight, which was due to arrive at 6:25 p.m. in London, had crashed on departure. This disaster marks the first-ever crash of a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.
Boeing has acknowledged the reports of the crash and is gathering more information. The 787 Dreamliner, a widebody, twin-engine plane introduced in 2009, has seen over 1,000 units delivered to dozens of airlines. British cabinet minister Lucy Powell assured that the government will provide “all the support that it can” to those affected by the crash.