Air India Flight to London Crashes Near Ahmedabad, 242 Onboard; PM Modi Expresses Deep Grief
Air India flight AI-171 crashes near Ahmedabad after takeoff, 242 onboard. PM Modi expresses grief; rescue ops and investigation underway.
image for illustrative purpose
In a tragic turn of events, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday. The aircraft, operating as flight AI-171 en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, went down just five minutes after departure.
Initial reports from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirm that the crash occurred at 1:44 PM, moments after the aircraft took off from runway 23 at 1:39 PM. Dramatic visuals from the scene show thick plumes of smoke rising from the crash site, located in a densely populated area near the airport.
PM Modi, Amit Shah Respond
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. I am in touch with ministers and authorities working on relief efforts.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed deep sorrow and confirmed that disaster response forces have been deployed to the crash site. He is en route to Ahmedabad to oversee rescue and relief operations personally.
Passenger Nationalities and Emergency Support
Air India confirmed the passenger manifest included:
- 169 Indian nationals
- 53 British nationals
- 1 Canadian national
- 7 Portuguese nationals
The airline has activated an emergency helpline: 1800 5691 444, and has set up dedicated support teams to assist families.
The flight was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with First Officer Clive Kunder as co-pilot. A total of 12 crew members were onboard.
Government and Rescue Response
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu posted on X: “Shocked and devastated. I am personally monitoring the situation. All emergency response agencies have been mobilized to ensure swift action.”
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has reached Ahmedabad and directed state officials to expedite rescue and medical response. He confirmed the creation of a green corridor to transport injured passengers to hospitals without delay.
An operational control room has been set up by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Contact numbers are:
- 011-24610843
- 9650391859
The Ahmedabad City Police has also issued a dedicated helpline: 079-25620359.
Flight Operations Halted
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport has suspended all flight operations until further notice. Officials are coordinating with civil aviation authorities and disaster management teams.
Investigation Underway
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has dispatched a team led by the Director General to probe the cause of the crash. More details are expected as the investigation unfolds.
International Reaction
London’s Gatwick Airport confirmed that flight AI171 was scheduled to land at 6:25 PM local time. In a statement posted on X, it expressed condolences and said it is working with Indian authorities for further updates.
Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran issued a statement extending condolences and assured full support to the victims' families and emergency teams. “Our focus is on assisting those impacted and cooperating fully with the ongoing emergency efforts,” he said.
