In a catastrophic aviation disaster, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, killing all 242 passengers and crew on board. The aircraft was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport when the tragedy occurred.
According to Indian media reports, the aircraft lost control moments after departing at 1:39 PM local time. The flight crew issued a distress “Mayday” call before communication ceased. The aircraft — flying under registration VT-ANB — veered off course and crashed into a residential building identified as a doctor’s hostel near the Meghani Nagar area, just beyond the airport perimeter.
“We have cleared 70 to 80 percent of the area so far. The building was mostly evacuated,” said a senior police official at the crash site.
The ill-fated flight was carrying 242 individuals, including 217 adults and 11 children. Among the deceased were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.
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Notably, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was also on board and has been confirmed dead. Tributes have poured in from Indian leaders across the political spectrum:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh: “Deeply pained by the tragic demise of Vijay Rupani ji… He will be remembered as a grassroots leader.”
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman: “Shocked at the demise of Shri. Vijay Rupani… A big loss for the BJP.”
Minister Nitin Gadkari: “His contributions to the state and the nation will always be remembered.”
President Droupadi Murmu also expressed her condolences over the loss.
Local media footage showed debris engulfed in flames, with thick smoke billowing over the area. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, transporting victims to Allied Hospital and nearby medical centers, although no survivors were reported.
Air India confirmed the crash in a statement posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter):
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident. Emergency protocols were activated immediately… Further updates will be provided.”
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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation. Flight tracking platform Flightradar24 reported that the plane’s signal disappeared seconds after takeoff, suggesting a sudden and catastrophic failure.
Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, released a brief statement:
“We are aware of reports regarding the Air India flight crash and are working to gather more information.”
Following the incident, all arrivals and departures at Ahmedabad Airport were suspended until further notice.
This crash marks one of India’s deadliest air disasters in recent years, recalling the 2020 Kozhikode Air India Express crash and the 1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision, which remains India’s worst aviation accident to date.
Aviation experts and public safety officials are urging improved infrastructure and technical oversight, especially at older, high-traffic airports.
