Air India Plane with 242 on Board Crashes in Ahmedabad

A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, registration VT-ANB, operated by Air India, crashed to the ground shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport (AMD), in eastern India, at around 1:38 PM local time (8:08 GMT)

The aircraft was headed to London-Gatwick, operating flight AI171, when, according to data from FlightRadar24, it lost signal at just 625 feet of altitude. At that point, it was fully loaded with fuel, which caused a massive explosion and fireball upon impact.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation of India (DGCA) reported that 230 passengers, 2 pilots, and 10 cabin crew members were on board. As of now, there is no official information on their condition.

Air India issued a brief statement at 8:58 AM GMT, confirming the accident and stating: “At this moment, we are verifying the details and will share further updates as soon as possible on airindia.com and our X account (https://x.com/airindia).”

Later, at 9:58 AM GMT, Air India provided additional details, indicating that of the 242 passengers, 169 were Indian citizens, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and one Canadian. The statement did not clarify the number of casualties or survivors but added that “the injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals.

The aircraft was headed to London-Gatwick, operating flight AI171, when, according to data from FlightRadar24, it lost signal at just 625 feet of altitude. At that point, it was fully loaded with fuel, which caused a massive explosion and fireball upon impact.

“Air India is fully cooperating with the authorities investigating this incident,” the airline concluded.

Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran personally issued a statement saying:

“With profound sorrow, I confirm that Air India flight AI171 has been involved in a tragic accident. Our condolences go out to the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event. We are focusing all our efforts on supporting the emergency teams and providing the utmost care and assistance to those impacted.”

“Due to the crash of flight AI171 shortly after takeoff, the airport is currently non-operational. All operations have been temporarily suspended. We urge passengers to check with their airlines before proceeding to the airport.”

The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport also announced that all operations are currently suspended.

The British government also released a statement, saying:

“We are aware of an air crash in Ahmedabad. The UK is working closely with Indian local authorities to urgently establish the facts and support those affected. British citizens in need of consular assistance or who have concerns about friends or family should call 020 7008 5000.”

Before the Ahmedabad–London flight, the Boeing 787 VT-ANB had operated a flight from Delhi, landing at 5:46 AM GMT. Air India has 26 Boeing 787-8s in its fleet, making it the most numerous wide-body type in its operation.

This is the first total hull loss accident involving a Boeing 787 in the 14 years of service of the aircraft family.

Images circulating on social media show parts of the aircraft on nearby buildings, as well as the rescue efforts underway by emergency teams.