Air India Flight with 242 Passengers Crashes Near Ahmedabad After Takeoff

New Delhi: An Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad on Thursday, carrying a total of 242 individuals, including passengers and crew members. Authorities have to confirm any casualties.

Local police reported that the aircraft went down in a residential area close to the airport. Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud explosion, followed by a fireball and thick black smoke rising from the site.

The aircraft involved was identified as a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a modern long-haul jet, based on data from flight tracking service Flightradar24. The plane took off at 1:39 PM local time (08:09 GMT) from runway 23 and reportedly issued a distress call shortly after departure. Communication was lost almost immediately following the emergency signal.

Television coverage showed the aircraft flying at a low altitude before disappearing behind buildings, followed by a significant explosion. Videos taken by onlookers displayed burning wreckage, with emergency services attending to the injured. Several individuals were seen being transported on stretchers to nearby hospitals by ambulances.

Air India confirmed the crash through a post on social media platform X, stating, “We are currently gathering information and will provide updates as soon as possible.”

This incident marks the most severe aviation accident in India since 2020, when an Air India Express flight overshot the runway during landing in Kozhikode, resulting in 21 fatalities after the plane fell into a valley.

As of now, Boeing has not issued any official statement regarding the incident.