Ahmedabad – A devastating aviation tragedy struck Ahmedabad when Air India Flight AI 171 crashed shortly after takeoff, claiming the lives of all 242 people onboard, according to city police commissioner G.S. Malik. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London, went down minutes after departing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, crashing into a residential and office zone in Meghani Nagar.
Dramatic videos, verified by NBC News, show thick black smoke billowing from the impact site, and visuals shared by the CISF reveal the aircraft’s tail embedded in a building. Initial reports state more than 100 bodies have been brought to hospitals, and rescue teams have retrieved 30 to 35 more from the crash zone.
The aircraft was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Air India stated that among them were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, 1 Canadian, and 7 Portuguese. The nationalities of the crew remain undisclosed.
Unconfirmed reports suggest former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani was among the passengers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow, calling the incident “heartbreaking beyond words,” while Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said he is personally overseeing the emergency response. The airport has suspended all operations.
Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, acknowledged the incident and stated they are gathering more details. The crash has already impacted Boeing’s market value, with shares falling sharply in pre-market trading.
The cause remains under investigation as rescue efforts continue amid a scene of unprecedented devastation.
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