Air India Flight to London Crashes Shortly after Take-Off from Ahmedabad
A video shows the aircraft flying low and struggling to gain altitude before it slams into the ground and explodes in a massive ball of fire at 1:38 PM.
New Delhi: An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed this afternoon shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport. The flight, which had 242 people on board, was headed to London. This is being called one of the most serious aviation accidents in India’s history.
There were 232 passengers and 10 crew members on the flight.
A video circulating online shows the plane flying very low and failing to gain height before hitting the ground and bursting into flames at 1:38 pm. Because it was a long-distance flight, the aircraft was carrying a full load of fuel.
Right after take-off, the pilot issued a mayday alert. According to reports, the air traffic control received no response after that.
In the final moments, the plane was at an altitude of only 825 feet when it failed to climb. "The aircraft was clearly unable to climb," aviation expert Sanjay Lazar told NDTV.
Caught On Cam: Passenger plane crashes near Ahmedabad Airport.#PlaneCrash #Gujarat #Ahmedabad #ViralVideo pic.twitter.com/EkitM2Eg9Y
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The flight, identified as AI 171, was traveling from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. On board were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 1 Canadian, and 7 Portuguese nationals.
Footage from the crash site shows the burned remains of the plane, thick smoke, and rescue teams working. Some clips show injured passengers being taken to hospitals.
At least 24 ambulances reached the location quickly, and several injured people were taken for medical treatment. Police also diverted traffic to make way for emergency teams.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said he is closely tracking the situation and has told all aviation and emergency agencies to respond quickly and work together.
"My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families," he said in a post on X.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement that the plane was being flown by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had 8,200 hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 hours. The mayday call was made shortly before the crash.
Air India has started a helpline number – 1800 5691 444 – for families and anyone needing more information.
