Ahmedabad, India – A London-bound Air India flight crashed into a building in the Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff on Thursday afternoon, leading to a massive explosion and widespread emergency response.
The incident involved a Boeing 787 Dreamliner operating under flight number AI171. It departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at approximately 1:39 PM local time, en route to London Gatwick. The flight had a total of 242 individuals on board, comprising both passengers and crew members.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar were piloting the aircraft during the flight. According to initial reports, the pilots sent out a MAYDAY distress signal moments after departure, indicating critical trouble during ascent.
Shortly after the alert, the plane lost altitude rapidly and collided with a building in a densely populated area. The impact triggered a powerful fire, reportedly worsened by the aircraft’s full fuel load prepared for the long-haul journey.
Local residents captured videos showing the plane descending at a steep angle before the explosion. Smoke and flames were visible billowing from the crash site, triggering an immediate response from emergency services.
Rescue teams from Gandhinagar and Vadodara were dispatched quickly to the scene. Six units of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), made up of over 90 specialists, are currently leading rescue and recovery operations in the area.
Officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have begun a formal investigation into the incident. Recovery of the aircraft’s black box is underway and will be crucial in determining the sequence of events that led to the crash.
Officials have yet to release confirmed details regarding the number of injuries or fatalities. The crash zone has been cordoned off, and citizens are being urged to stay away to allow emergency crews to operate safely and efficiently.
