Air India 787 crashes after takeoff from Ahmedabad

An Air India Boeing 787-8, operating as flight AI171 to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff today from Ahmedabad Airport (AMD) in western India.

“The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members” of whom 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, one is a Canadian national and seven are Portuguese nationals, Air India says in a statement on X.

“The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals,” it adds.

Flightradar24 says the aircraft, bearing registration VT-ANB, was delivered to Air India in January 2014. Its signal “was lost at 08:08 UTC (13:38 local time) at 625 feet, less than a minute after takeoff,” states the flight tracking web site.

The twinjet reportedly crashed into a medical college’s hostel, near the airport. The number of casualties on board and potentially on the ground is not immediately known. India’s civil aviation authority DGCA has launched an investigation.

Air India’s owner, Tata Group, in a statement shared on X says: “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event. At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families.

“We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted. Further updates will be shared as we receive more verified information. An emergency centre has been activated and support team have been set up for families seeking.”

Air India says it is giving its full cooperation to the authorities and will provide more updates as they become available.

Harrowing videos and images of the crash are being shared on social media. RGN will not be sharing these images out of respect for the families.

Featured image of Air India 787-8 credited to istock.com/SCMJeans

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