A destroyed Air India aircraft near Ahmedabad, India, following a crash that killed hundreds of people on board.
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India (Epicstorian News) — An Air India jet carrying 244 people, including 53 British nationals, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat, India, on Thursday.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating as flight AI171 to London Gatwick Airport, plummeted into a residential neighborhood in the Meghani area within moments of liftoff around 1:38pm local time.
Air India Flight 171 Plunges into City Seconds After Departure
The crash site, scattered with debris and charred bodies, shocked residents as emergency services scrambled to locate survivors. Graphic footage captured the aftermath, including wreckage embedded in the BJ Medical College doctors’ hostel and canteen. Authorities confirmed that many victims were medical students and staff who were killed when parts of the aircraft tore through their accommodation.
As of 11:30am BST, rescue crews had recovered at least 30 bodies. Images posted online showed fuselage sections, tail pieces, and landing gear strewn across buildings and streets, with half-eaten meals visible on canteen tables—a haunting reminder of the sudden disaster.
Experienced Crew Onboard Air India Jet Sends Mayday Before Impact
According to India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Air India jet issued a mayday call seconds before it lost contact. Flight tracking site Flightradar24 confirmed that the aircraft only reached 625 feet altitude before descending rapidly.
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Captain Sumeet Sabharwal had 8,200 hours of flying experience, and first officer Clive Kundar had logged over 1,100 hours.
Early analyses suggest the aircraft may have experienced a catastrophic failure shortly after liftoff. Lt. Col. John R. Davidson, an aviation safety consultant, said the aircraft exhibited an unusual high-nose descent and likely suffered a stall or power loss. Bird strike, engine malfunction, or poor configuration are all under investigation.
British and Indian Officials Respond to Air India Tragedy
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed sadness and said British authorities were coordinating with Indian officials to provide support. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the event as ‘devastating,’ while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it ‘heartbreaking beyond words’ and directed all agencies to support rescue efforts immediately.
Air India Releases Statement After Gatwick-Bound Flight Crash
Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran issued a statement confirming the tragedy and pledging full support to victims’ families. “Our deepest condolences go out to everyone affected. We are coordinating closely with emergency teams and doing all we can,” he said.
Rescue operations remain underway as local authorities and the National Disaster Response Force comb through wreckage for survivors.
India’s aviation safety bureau has launched a full investigation into what is now one of the country’s worst commercial aviation disasters in recent years.
