Air India Crash Today : Flight AI171, a Boeing 787, crashed post-takeoff in Ahmedabad’s Meghani Nagar. Carrying 242, it issued a “Mayday” before impact, killing at least 30. Rescue operations continue; AAIB investigates. Airport closed. Helplines: 1800 5691 444, 9974111327.
Catastrophic Crash Shakes Ahmedabad
AnAir India Crash : Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 p.m. IST (8:08 a.m. GMT). The aircraft plummeted into the Meghani Nagar residential area, causing widespread devastation. The flight carried 242 passengers and crew, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. At least 30 fatalities have been confirmed, with the death toll likely to rise.
Distress Call and Immediate Aftermath
Flightradar24 and air traffic control reported a “Mayday” distress signal from the aircraft seconds before it vanished from radar. Eyewitnesses saw the plane struggling to climb, falling from 625–825 feet and erupting into flames upon impact. Black smoke billowed from the crash site near a doctors’ hostel in Meghaninagar, where debris, including the plane’s tail, remains embedded in a building. The tragedy has left the community reeling.
Emergency Response Overwhelmed
More than 400 Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, firefighters, and medical teams are responding at the scene, extinguishing fires and searching for survivors. Local hospitals are swamped, with reports of “chaos” as they treat critically injured victims. Over 100 bodies have been recovered, including medical students killed when the plane hit their hostel. Rescue efforts continue amid challenging conditions.
Boeing’s Safety Record Under Scrutiny
This is the first fatal crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a model with nearly 5 million flights since 2011. The incident has sparked renewed concerns about Boeing’s safety standards, with shares dropping over 7% in pre-market trading, erasing $10 billion in market value. A 2024 whistleblower report citing production issues, including faulty electrical inspections on the 787, has fueled speculation about potential mechanical failures.
