Air India Flight Crash Update: Casualties and Ongoing Rescue Efforts in Ahmedabad

An Air India flight bound for London with 242 individuals on board crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday, prompting a response from the airline and local authorities. India’s federal health minister reported that “many people” have lost their lives in the incident.

The aircraft, en route to Gatwick Airport in the UK, went down in a civilian area near the airport, according to police officials. “The building it struck is a doctors’ hostel… we have cleared approximately 70% to 80% of the area and will continue our efforts,” a senior police officer informed reporters.

Among the 242 passengers were 217 adults and 11 children. Air India confirmed that 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were from Britain, seven were Portuguese, and one was Canadian. The flight was identified as a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a modern passenger aircraft noted for its advanced technology, according to aviation tracking service Flightradar24.

Air India released a statement on X, noting, “At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates. The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals.” Reports indicate that the crash occurred moments after take-off, with television footage showing the aircraft leaving the runway over a residential neighborhood before vanishing from view, followed by a large fireball rising into the sky.

Footage from the scene revealed burning debris and thick black smoke billowing near the airport, as emergency responders transported injured individuals on stretchers to ambulances.

Air traffic control at Ahmedabad Airport reported that the aircraft departed at 1:39 PM IST (0809 GMT) from runway 23. The flight issued a “Mayday” call, indicating an emergency, but no further communication was received from the aircraft thereafter. Flightradar24 indicated that the last signal from the plane was recorded just seconds after take-off.

Boeing acknowledged the preliminary reports and stated that it is working to gather additional information. Following the news, Boeing shares fell by 6.8% in pre-market trading.

The British government is collaborating with Indian authorities to swiftly ascertain the facts surrounding the crash and provide assistance to those affected. The office of India’s aviation minister confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has instructed officials to extend all necessary support for rescue operations.

All relevant agencies are on high alert, coordinating their efforts in response to the tragedy. Ahmedabad is located in Gujarat, Modi’s home state. The airport has suspended all flight operations in light of the incident, which is managed by the Adani Group.

Gautam Adani, founder and chairman of the Adani Group, expressed his condolences on X, stating, “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragedy of Air India Flight 171. Our hearts go out to the families who have suffered an unimaginable loss. We are working closely with all authorities and providing full support to the families on the ground.”

The last fatal aviation incident in India occurred in 2020, involving an Air India Express flight that overshot a runway at Kozhikode International Airport, resulting in 21 fatalities. Air India, which was previously state-owned, was acquired by the Tata Group in 2022 and merged with Vistara, a joint venture with Singapore Airlines, in 2024. Tata has activated an emergency center and established a support team for families seeking information.