Air India flight crashes near Ahmedabad, 241 dead | Fusion - WeRIndia

In one of India’s worst aviation disasters, an Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating as AI-171, went down in the Meghani Nagar residential area, killing 241 people on board.

The aircraft took off at 1:39 p.m. IST and issued a MAYDAY signal minutes later.

Tragically, it lost communication soon after. The plane crashed around nine minutes post-departure, reportedly losing signal at 625 feet.

Thick smoke and fire engulfed the wreckage, complicating rescue efforts. There were 242 individuals on board, including 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the deceased. Officials confirmed that 40-year-old British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, seated in 11A, was the sole survivor. Locals rescued him as he limped away from the crash.

Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar piloted the aircraft. The plane, registered as VT-ANB, had been in service since 2014. This marks the first major crash involving a Boeing 787, a model known for its strong safety record.

Emergency teams, including the NDRF, rushed to the site. Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu and Home Minister Amit Shah visited the crash area.

The DGCA and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau have begun a formal probe. All flight operations at Ahmedabad Airport are suspended until further notice.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow. He directed full support for rescue and relief efforts.

Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran announced a compensation of ₹1 crore for each victim’s family.

Air India will also cover the medical costs of the injured and has arranged special relief flights for their families.

Boeing stated it is gathering more details on the incident. As investigations continue, the nation mourns the devastating loss of life in this tragic accident.

Image Credit: Apurba Biswas, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sardar_Vallabhbhai_Patel_International_Airport,_Ahmedabad,_India_3.jpg