New Delhi: An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Flight AI171, bound for London Gatwick with 242 people on board, crashed minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport today. The devastating incident occurred in a densely populated residential area of Meghaninagar, just outside the airport perimeter, leading to widespread destruction and significant casualties.
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik confirmed that amidst the wreckage, a single survivor was miraculously pulled from seat 11A of the ill-fated aircraft.
The lone survivor of the Air India Flight AI171 crash has been identified as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national who was seated in 11A. Shri Ramesh is currently receiving critical medical attention at a local hospital. Commissioner Shri Malik’s statement offers a glimmer of hope amidst the tragedy.
The flight, which departed at approximately 1:39 PM IST, issued a “Mayday” call shortly after leaving Runway 23, indicating a full emergency. However, contact was lost immediately thereafter. Eyewitnesses described the aircraft flying unusually low before plummeting to the ground and erupting into a massive fireball upon impact. The crash site, near a medical college hostel, sustained extensive damage, with several buildings and vehicles engulfed in flames.
Rescue operations are in full swing, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Army, CRPF, and Coast Guard deployed to the scene. Emergency services are battling the ongoing fires and sifting through the debris in a desperate search for victims. So far, over 200 bodies have reportedly been recovered, and the death toll is feared to rise, including potential casualties from the residential area affected by the crash.
Air India has confirmed that among the 242 individuals on board, there were 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The passenger manifest included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals. Both the Indian and UK governments have expressed profound sorrow over the incident and are coordinating response efforts.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have launched a joint probe to determine the cause of the catastrophic crash. The focus of the investigation will be on the aircraft’s sudden descent and subsequent explosion. This marks the first crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its introduction 14 years ago. Air India has set up a dedicated passenger hotline for affected families.
The incident has sent shockwaves across India and internationally, with leaders and aviation authorities extending their condolences and promising a thorough investigation into this tragic aviation disaster.