At least 40 people reportedly died after an Air India flight carrying over 242 passengers crashed in Ahmedabad’s Meghani region, near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, shortly after takeoff on Thursday afternoon.
The incident occurred at 1.17 pm when the Air India Boeing Dreamliner was taking off for London with 242 passengers and 10 crew members on board.
The London-bound flight crashed minutes after takeoff, slamming into a building just beyond the airport perimeter.
Among those on the aircraft were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian and seven Portuguese passengers.
“We have also set up a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 to provide more information. Air India is giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident,” Air India said in a statement on X.
As per reports, 35 bodies have been recovered so far from the crash site.
The flight, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was headed to Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom.
According to Air India source, of the 242 people onboard, 217 were adults and 11 were children.
Authorities, however, are yet to confirm the cause of the crash.
“Air India B787 aircraft VT-ANB, while operating flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, crashed immediately after takeoff from Ahmedabad. There were 242 people on board… The aircraft was under the command of Capt Sumeet Sabharwal with First Officer Clive Kundar,” the DGCA said in a statement.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Home Minister Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu about the crash. He directed them to travel to Ahmedabad and arrange all necessary support for those affected.
Meanwhile, all flight operations have been temporarily suspended at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport here following the crash.
