On Thursday, June 12th, an Air India plane carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat, India. Official authorities have not yet confirmed the extent of casualties, and relevant agencies are still actively engaged in search and rescue efforts as well as investigations.
Videos circulated on social media captured the moment of the plane crash, accompanied by a massive explosion and intense flames, with thick smoke billowing into the sky.
Air India later released a statement on social platform X, confirming that the crashed flight was identified as AI 171. The flight was originally scheduled to fly from Ahmedabad to Gatwick Airport in London, UK. The official statement also mentioned that the airline has activated an emergency response center and dispatched support teams to assist passengers’ families.
According to a statement from Air India, there were 242 passengers and crew members on board the aircraft. Of these, 169 were Indian citizens, 53 were British citizens, 1 was a Canadian citizen, and 7 were Portuguese citizens.
Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the Chairman of Air India, and the parent company Tata Group expressed deep sorrow in a statement following the tragic incident.
Reports from The Indian Express and other sources indicated that the crash occurred around noon local time. Witnesses reported irregular noises from the plane during takeoff, followed by the crash and subsequent fire.
After the incident, local police and fire departments swiftly secured the area around the crash site, mobilizing multiple fire teams and rescue personnel. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also dispatched 90 personnel to assist in the rescue efforts.
Ahmedabad Airport temporarily halted all flight operations and initiated emergency response procedures. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India has commenced an investigation into the cause of the accident, with preliminary considerations not ruling out mechanical failure and other factors.