In a devastating aviation tragedy, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon. The flight, AI171, was en route to London Gatwick when it plunged to the ground at 1:38 PM, erupting into a massive fireball.

All 232 passengers and 10 crew members aboard the aircraft lost their lives. Among them were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals. Tragically, the crash also claimed the lives of five medical students after the aircraft slammed into a hostel building near the airport.

Eyewitnesses reported the aircraft flying unusually low before a deafening explosion rocked the area. Visuals from the scene showed charred debris, thick smoke, and parts of the plane lodged inside the hostel’s dining hall. Plates of uneaten food lay scattered amid the wreckage.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with over 8,000 flying hours, made a distress “Mayday” call shortly after take-off. The aircraft reportedly failed to gain proper lift and stalled at an altitude of just 825 feet. First Officer Clive Kundar was also on duty during the ill-fated flight.

The Dreamliner was heavily fuelled for its international journey, contributing to the intensity of the explosion. Over two dozen ambulances and multiple fire engines rushed to the scene. Emergency responders continue to search the wreckage.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said he was personally monitoring rescue operations and urged agencies to act swiftly. “My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” he posted on X.

Authorities have launched a detailed investigation into the cause of the crash.

In a devastating aviation tragedy, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon. The flight, AI171, was en route to London Gatwick when it plunged to the ground at 1:38 PM, erupting into a massive fireball.

All 232 passengers and 10 crew members aboard the aircraft lost their lives. Among them were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals. Tragically, the crash also claimed the lives of five medical students after the aircraft slammed into a hostel building near the airport.

Eyewitnesses reported the aircraft flying unusually low before a deafening explosion rocked the area. Visuals from the scene showed charred debris, thick smoke, and parts of the plane lodged inside the hostel’s dining hall. Plates of uneaten food lay scattered amid the wreckage.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with over 8,000 flying hours, made a distress “Mayday” call shortly after take-off. The aircraft reportedly failed to gain proper lift and stalled at an altitude of just 825 feet. First Officer Clive Kundar was also on duty during the ill-fated flight.

The Dreamliner was heavily fuelled for its international journey, contributing to the intensity of the explosion. Over two dozen ambulances and multiple fire engines rushed to the scene. Emergency responders continue to search the wreckage.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said he was personally monitoring rescue operations and urged agencies to act swiftly. “My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” he posted on X.

Authorities have launched a detailed investigation into the cause of the crash.