Air India Crash in Ahmedabad: All 242 Onboard Feared Dead in Devastating Accident
Ahmedabad : In a catastrophic aviation disaster, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London, crashed minutes after take-off on Wednesday, killing all 242 people onboard. The aircraft plunged into a residential area near Meghaninagar, crashing into the doctors’ hostel of B.J. Medical College and erupting into flames.
According to officials, the flight was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Among the dead were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was reportedly among the passengers.
Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene as the aircraft screamed overhead before nosediving and exploding. “It was like a bomb went off. The building shook, and smoke filled the sky,” said a local resident. Rescue operations began immediately, with teams from the NDRF, fire services, and police rushing to the scene. By evening, officials confirmed there were no survivors.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply anguished” by the tragedy and offered prayers for the victims’ families. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles also expressed their condolences.
Preliminary reports indicate the pilot issued a mayday call moments before the crash. An investigation has been launched by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), in coordination with Boeing and GE Aerospace.
This is the deadliest air disaster in India since the Kozhikode crash in 2020 and the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 since its debut. Reuters
