A major aviation disaster struck Ahmedabad on Wednesday when an Air India flight AI171, bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff. The Boeing B787 aircraft (VT-ANB) was carrying 242 people, including passengers and crew, when it went down in the Meghani Nagar area, a densely populated residential zone.
Initial reports confirm that the aircraft lost contact with Air Traffic Control moments after the pilot issued a “Mayday” call at 1:38 PM, shortly after departure from runway 23 of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The plane crashed near a doctors’ hostel, triggering widespread panic and a massive fireball. Emergency teams reached the site within minutes, and firefighting and rescue operations are ongoing.
National and State Response
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah contacted Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Ahmedabad Police Commissioner for updates. The Chief Minister is en route to the crash site. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has activated an emergency operations control room for coordination. Air India confirmed the accident and said a full assessment is underway.
Passengers and Casualties
According to Air India, the plane carried 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, 1 Canadian, and 7 Portuguese passengers. Injured individuals have been taken to nearby hospitals. Rescue personnel from NDRF and local authorities are working to secure the area and assist survivors. As of now, unconfirmed media reports claim that former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was also among the passengers, but official confirmation is awaited.
Air India and DGCA Statements
Air India has issued a public hotline for passenger information: 1800 5691 444, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation has also released two helpline numbers: 011-24610843 and 9650391859. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft had 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew members on board and that the captain was Sumit Sabharwal, assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar.
Ongoing Investigation
DGCA and Air India are jointly investigating the cause of the crash. Technical failure shortly after takeoff appears to be the preliminary cause, as the pilot issued an emergency distress signal before all communication was lost. More details are awaited as rescue and recovery efforts continue.
