In one of the most devastating aviation tragedies India has witnessed, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport this afternoon. The ill-fated flight, AI 171, was headed to London Gatwick with 232 passengers and 10 crew members on board.
Tragically, only one person — the passenger seated at 11A — survived the crash, according to officials. The aircraft slammed into a hostel for medical college doctors, killing five students who were inside at the time. Heart-wrenching visuals from the crash site show debris piercing the walls of the dining hall, with food still left untouched on some of the plates, capturing the suddenness of the disaster.
A disturbing video circulating online shows the aircraft flying unusually low and struggling to gain altitude before it crashed and exploded into a massive fireball at 1:38 pm. The plane was heavily loaded with fuel for the long-haul journey to London, contributing to the intensity of the explosion.
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot sent out a mayday call, but there was no further communication despite repeated attempts by air traffic control. According to aviation expert Sanjay Lazar, the plane experienced a catastrophic failure to gain lift at a dangerously low altitude of 825 feet, making recovery impossible.
The flight was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, with over two dozen ambulances transporting the injured to nearby hospitals. Thick smoke, charred wreckage, and frantic rescue efforts painted a grim scene at the crash site. Police swiftly cordoned off the area and redirected traffic to facilitate rescue operations.
Prime Minister and various leaders expressed their condolences. “My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families,” read a post on X.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had 8,200 flight hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 flight hours. Both had sent out the distress call shortly before the crash.
Air India has established a dedicated passenger hotline at 1800 5691 444 for families seeking information.
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