Photo source: Air India
An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, operating a flight from Ahmedabad to London, crashed into a neighborhood near Patel International Airport shortly after takeoff.
With 242 people on board, the plane departed Ahmedabad at approximately 1:38 p.m. local time and lost contact with air traffic control just moments later. According to preliminary reports, those on board included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.
“With profound sorrow, I confirm that Air India Flight 171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in a tragic accident today,” said Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Air India.
“We are doing everything in our power to support emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary care to those affected.”
According to the airline, the injured are being transported to nearby hospitals, and a dedicated passenger information hotline has been activated. Meanwhile, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a formal investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
“Air India is fully cooperating with the authorities investigating this incident,” the airline added.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its sorrow over the incident.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers and crew, their families and loved ones, and all those affected by the accident,” IATA said.
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