Horror in the Skies: Air India Plane with 242 Onboard Crashes in Ahmedabad

An Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Wednesday afternoon, killing several people and leaving many injured. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, one of the most modern commercial aircraft in service, was carrying 242 individuals, including 217 adults and 11 children, according to sources.

✈️ Flight Details & Crash Site

The aircraft, operating as Flight AI 171, departed Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 PM IST (0809 GMT) from runway 23. Within minutes of takeoff, it issued a distress “Mayday” call before losing contact with air traffic control. Authorities confirmed it crashed in a civilian area near the airport, specifically in Meghani Nagar, sparking a massive fire.

🚨 Rescue & Emergency Response

Visuals from the scene showed thick black smoke and burning debris engulfing a residential area. Emergency services, including firefighters, ambulances, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, were deployed immediately. Injured passengers were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

India’s federal health minister confirmed that “many people” had died in the crash, though official casualty figures are yet to be released.

🌍 Passengers & Nationalities

Air India confirmed that the flight carried passengers of multiple nationalities:

• 169 Indians
• 53 British nationals
• 7 Portuguese
• 1 Canadian

Among the passengers were high-profile individuals, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, though his condition remains unknown.

🧭 International Reactions

The United Kingdom’s Foreign Office issued a statement saying it is working with Indian authorities to urgently establish the facts and provide assistance to those affected. Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, also acknowledged the incident and stated it is cooperating with aviation authorities to gather more information.