In a devastating incident, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner operating as flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft, which took off from runway 23 at approximately 1:35 PM IST, went down at 1:39 PM in the Meghaninagar area, just outside the airport perimeter.
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The plane was carrying 242 people, including 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew members. The flight was commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a veteran with over 8,200 flight hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, with 1,100 hours of experience. According to preliminary reports, a MAYDAY distress call was issued to air traffic control moments before all communication was lost.
Eyewitnesses near the crash site reported seeing the aircraft descend rapidly, followed by a loud explosion and heavy black smoke. Emergency services, including fire brigades, ambulances, and police units, reached the site quickly and began rescue operations. Several passengers have reportedly been pulled from the wreckage, though the scale of casualties remains unclear.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has dispatched a team of investigators from Delhi to determine the cause of the crash. While early speculation points to potential mechanical failure or human error, officials emphasize that it is too soon to draw conclusions. The black boxes—flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder—will be critical in reconstructing the chain of events.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, introduced in 2011, is widely regarded for its safety and technological advancements. This incident marks one of the rare hull losses involving the model, which has a strong global safety record with only 13 previous major incidents reported.
Unconfirmed reports indicate over 100 fatalities, and there is speculation that former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani may have been on board. However, no official passenger list has been released, and authorities urge the public to refrain from circulating unverified information.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, pledging full central government support to Gujarat’s administration. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also extended condolences, calling the incident “profoundly tragic.”
Rescue and relief operations are ongoing, and hospitals in Ahmedabad have been placed on high alert. Further details, including casualty figures and investigative findings, are expected to emerge in the coming hours.
