An Air India flight carrying 242 passengers and crew has crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, located in western India.
Thick plumes of black smoke were seen rising from the crash site just outside the airport perimeter, according to images from the scene.
The aircraft, operating as Flight AI171, was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport and was scheduled to arrive at 6:25 p.m. local time (1:25 p.m. ET). Air India confirmed the incident in an official statement, describing it as a “tragic accident.”
According to the airline, the flight was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian. Emergency services quickly responded, and injured individuals are being transported to nearby hospitals.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reported that the aircraft made a Mayday call shortly after departure. However, communications ceased immediately afterward.
“The aircraft departed from Runway 23 and crashed shortly after takeoff, just outside the airport boundary. Heavy black smoke was observed at the crash location,” the DGCA said.
Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicates that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off at 1:38 p.m. local time (4:08 a.m. ET). The aircraft’s signal was lost less than a minute later at an altitude of 625 feet. It then began to descend rapidly at a rate of -475 feet per minute before crashing.
In response to the incident, all departures from Ahmedabad Airport have been suspended until further notice. A spokesperson for the airport advised passengers to contact their airlines for updated travel information and urged the public to remain patient as authorities manage the situation.
India’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, expressed his sorrow on social media: “Shocked and devastated by the news. Rescue efforts are underway and medical support is being dispatched as quickly as possible.”
Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran also issued a statement, describing the event as a “tragic accident” and affirming the airline’s commitment to support emergency teams and affected families.
