Ahmedabad-Gujarat:- In a devastating aviation tragedy, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed moments after take-off from Ahmedabad airport this afternoon. The flight, AI 171, was en route to London Gatwick when it went down, marking one of the worst air disasters in India’s recent history.
According to officials, the aircraft crashed into a residential hostel for doctors attached to a local medical college. Shocking visuals from the site show the plane’s debris penetrating the dining hall walls, with food still visible on plates – a haunting reminder of the sudden impact.
The crash occurred at 1:38 PM, moments after the aircraft appeared to struggle with altitude. Eyewitness videos captured the plane flying unusually low before it slammed into the ground and erupted into a massive fireball. The aircraft was reportedly fully loaded with fuel for the long-haul journey to the UK.
The flight was carrying 232 passengers and 10 crew members. Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals.
Tragically, a mayday call was made by the pilot shortly after take-off, but air traffic controllers reportedly received no further communication.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft was being flown by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a veteran with over 8,200 flying hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours.
Scenes from the crash site showed charred wreckage, thick smoke, and emergency teams working relentlessly. Several injured victims have been rushed to nearby hospitals, with more than two dozen ambulances deployed to the scene. Police have cordoned off the area and diverted traffic to aid rescue operations.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu stated he is closely monitoring the situation and has instructed all aviation and emergency agencies to act swiftly and in coordination.
“My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families,” he said in a message on social platform X.
