What we know about the Air India plane crash

An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Friday. The aircraft, carrying 242 people bound for London, fell from the sky minutes into its journey.

The crash site, just beyond the airport perimeter, burst into flames upon impact. It struck a hostel used by medical professionals. Videos show the aircraft descending rapidly before vanishing behind buildings and erupting into a fireball. Thick black smoke towered into the sky as emergency workers raced to rescue survivors.

Authorities now confirm there were none.

What Happened?

Flight AI171 departed Ahmedabad at 1:39 p.m. local time. The plane was headed to London Gatwick, where it was scheduled to land at 6:25 p.m. local time. The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reported that the aircraft issued a Mayday call shortly after departure.

“After the Mayday, the aircraft gave no further response to air traffic control,” the DGCA said. “It fell to the ground outside the airport immediately after departure from Runway 23.”

Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 shows the aircraft lost contact at 625 feet altitude. The wreckage now sits embedded in the hostel building, its tail section jutting out from the rubble.

Ahmedabad is located in Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He led the state as chief minister for over a decade.

Who Was on Board?

Air India confirmed that 169 Indian citizens were aboard, along with 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. The United Kingdom and India share longstanding cultural ties, with about 1.9 million people of Indian origin living in the UK as of the 2021 census.

The Ahmedabad police commissioner told the Associated Press that all on board are believed to have perished.

Prime Minister Modi described the crash as “heartbreaking beyond words.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the footage “devastating.”

Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of Air India, said, “We are doing everything in our power to support emergency response teams and provide care to the affected families.”

Aircraft Details and Fallout

The crash involved a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner—the first fatal crash for this aircraft model since it entered service in 2011. Boeing stated it is “working to gather more information” about the incident.

More than 1,175 Dreamliners operate globally, completing around 2,100 flights per day. Aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas told CNN the model had just carried its one-billionth passenger.

Following the crash, Boeing shares fell over 7% in pre-market trading. Stock prices of several airlines—including IAG (parent of British Airways), Lufthansa, Delta, and United Airlines—also dropped.

Safety Record and Air India’s History

If confirmed, the crash would be the deadliest aviation disaster since 2014. That year, a Malaysia Airlines jet was shot down over Ukraine, killing all 298 people aboard.

Air India has faced multiple crashes over the years. In 2020, an Air India Express flight skidded off a runway in Kerala, killing 18. In 2010, another crash in southern India claimed 158 lives.

In 2022, Tata Group bought Air India in a historic deal. The Tata family originally founded the airline in 1932. The airline was nationalized in 1953 and remained under government control for nearly 70 years.

Since returning to Tata ownership, Air India has been working to modernize its fleet and operations. The airline aims to capitalize on India’s growing middle class and rising demand for air travel.

What’s Next?

Investigations are underway to determine what caused the crash. Boeing, Indian authorities, and global aviation experts will review flight data, maintenance logs, and cockpit recordings.

While aircraft incidents are rare, this crash has reignited public concern over aviation safety. “Crashes like this are incredibly rare, but when they happen, the industry must respond quickly,” said aviation consultant Shashank Nigam.

Rescue and recovery operations continue at the crash site. Families wait for official identification of victims. The international aviation community watches closely for answers.

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