A tragic air disaster occurred on Thursday when an Air India flight, AI-171, bound for London, crashed shortly after takeoff near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members.
The crash, which reportedly happened near the doctors’ hostel close to the Meghaninagar area, triggered chaos as thick smoke and flames engulfed the crash site. Video footage posted by PTI on X (formerly Twitter) shows residents and vehicles fleeing the scene, with fire and dense smog visible in the background. Even a dog can be seen running amid the panic.
According to officials, over 170 people have been confirmed dead, with several others critically injured. Emergency response was swift, with three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams deployed and firefighters rushing to control the blaze. Police and disaster units arrived at the scene within minutes of the crash.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the injured at Asarwa Civil Hospital, where victims were being treated.
Air India released an official statement confirming that the flight took off from Ahmedabad at 13:38 hrs and had 242 people on board. Among them were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian national, and seven Portuguese nationals.
To assist affected families, Air India has set up a dedicated hotline: 1800 5691 444.
A senior police official stated, “As per preliminary information, the plane crashed at the doctors’ hostel. Within 2–3 minutes, police and emergency services were at the scene. Around 70–80% of the area has been cleared, and rescue operations are ongoing.”
