Air India Flight Crashes Minutes After Takeoff from Ahmedabad, Rescue Efforts Underway

Crash in a Crowded Neighborhood

An Air India passenger flight heading to London crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad, India. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating as Flight AI171, had 244 people on board. It left Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport around 1:38 p.m. local time on Wednesday. Within five minutes, the plane went down in the Meghani Nagar area, a thickly populated part of the city.

Witnesses said they heard a loud noise followed by black smoke and flames. Local resident Harshil Patel, who lives nearby, said it felt like an explosion. People ran toward the crash site to help, but the fire and wreckage made it difficult to reach those inside. Emergency crews arrived quickly and began rescue work.

Crew, Investigation, and Safety Measures

Onboard the flight were 232 passengers and 12 crew members. The aircraft was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a veteran with over 8,200 flying hours, and co-pilot Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 hours of experience. Reports suggest that the pilots may have sent a distress signal before the aircraft dropped off radar. Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the crash.

Firefighters, police, and medical teams continue working at the crash site. The search for the black boxes is ongoing, as these will provide key information about what went wrong. The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation has started a full investigation.

All flight activity at Ahmedabad airport has been suspended. Other flights have been redirected or grounded. Families of those on the plane have been asked to report to emergency centers set up at the airport. Government officials are monitoring the situation as rescue teams continue their work.