Air India Ahmedabad Crash: Thick smoke at the crash site is making rescue efforts difficult, officials reported. Emergency response teams are actively working, and an NDRF unit is en route to assist.
Ahmedabad Plane Crash Update:
A Boeing 787 aircraft operated by Air India, with 242 people on board, went down in a residential neighborhood near Ahmedabad airport just moments after departing on Thursday afternoon. The flight, AI-171, was scheduled to travel to London Gatwick. Eyewitnesses in Meghani Nagar, a neighborhood close to the airport, reported seeing thick smoke rising from the crash site.
Aviation officials reported that the plane departed from Runway 23 at 1:39 PM IST and shortly after, sent out a MAYDAY emergency alert. However, communication was lost immediately after the alert. The aircraft came down just beyond the airport’s boundary, and dense black smoke was observed billowing from the scene, said a senior DGCA official.
Air India stated that there were 169 Indian nationals on board, along with 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese travelers. Those who sustained injuries are currently being transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment. All emergency services at the airport were activated right after the incident. The Director General of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and other senior authorities are heading to Ahmedabad. Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu is also traveling there to personally supervise the rescue and relief work. Air India has set up a special hotline, 1800 5691 444, to help families with updates and information regarding the incident.
The airline has pledged full support to the ongoing investigation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed on the situation by Minister Naidu and has instructed that all necessary assistance be provided immediately. Naidu, who was attending an event in Vijayawada, cut his trip short and is now in close contact with top officials from DGCA, AAI, NDRF, and the Gujarat state government to oversee the situation. All agencies remain on high alert, coordinating efforts on the ground. Further updates will be shared by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, DGCA, and the airline as more details become available.
The flight was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, an experienced pilot with more than 8,200 flight hours, alongside First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged approximately 1,100 hours. This marks the first reported accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The aircraft, delivered to Air India in January 2014, reportedly lost signal shortly after takeoff at an altitude of just 625 feet. The aircraft quickly lost altitude, descending at an estimated rate of 475 feet per minute.
Air India released a statement confirming the incident involving flight AI171 on the Ahmedabad–London Gatwick route and said more information will be shared as soon as it’s available. A spokesperson for the airport confirmed that the plane crashed outside the airport perimeter shortly after departure. Following the incident, all flight activities at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport have been suspended temporarily, pending further notice. Thick smoke from the crash site has made rescue operations difficult. Teams are still on the ground, and a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) unit is en route.
