A tragic aviation accident occurred in western India when a passenger plane bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff. The Air India flight, numbered AI171, had departed from Ahmedabad at 1:39 PM local time, en route to London Gatwick Airport, but lost contact with air traffic control shortly after sending an emergency distress signal.
According to India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying a total of 242 individuals, including 12 crew members—2 of whom were in the cockpit. On board were 169 Indian nationals, 53 from the UK, 7 from Portugal, and 1 Canadian citizen. The plane reportedly went down in a residential area near the airport, raising concerns about potential casualties on the ground.
The captain had 8,200 flight hours of experience, while the co-pilot had logged around 1,100 hours. Despite the experienced crew, the cause of the crash remains unknown. Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the number of fatalities or injuries.
Emergency services, including fire and ambulance teams, were quickly dispatched to the crash site. As rescue operations continue, an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the disaster. The incident has prompted widespread concern and scrutiny of Air India’s safety protocols.