Photo Credit: The Hindu
In a catastrophic aviation tragedy, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London crashed just minutes after take-off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft, Flight AI-171, was carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members, when it went down in the densely populated Meghani Nagar area.
Eyewitnesses described a thunderous noise followed by plumes of black smoke and roaring flames as the aircraft plummeted into a building complex adjacent to a hospital, believed to be housing doctors and medical interns. Rescue workers were seen pulling survivors from the debris while fire services battled the blaze well into the afternoon. Hospital sources and local authorities fear that many people on board, and possibly some on the ground, may have perished.
The flight took off around 1:38 PM IST. Within two minutes, the pilots reportedly issued a distress call. However, communication was abruptly lost soon after. Flight tracking platforms confirmed that the aircraft never gained significant altitude, disappearing from radar at just over 600 feet.
Authorities have suspended all operations at the airport until further notice. Flights have been diverted to Mumbai and Udaipur, while passengers scheduled to depart from Ahmedabad are being accommodated in nearby hotels.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have initiated a full-scale inquiry. Meanwhile, Boeing has dispatched a technical team from Seattle to assist in the investigation, and Air India officials have confirmed that the black box has been located and secured. Experts are also examining whether a technical fault, bird strike, or weather conditions played a role in the crash.
International governments have begun reaching out as details about passengers emerge. Among those on board were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, and several from Portugal and Canada. The British Foreign Office has activated emergency response teams and expressed condolences.
This incident marks one of India’s deadliest air disasters in recent history and the first major crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its global debut over a decade ago. The aircraft, known for its advanced fuel efficiency and composite materials, had no prior major fatal accidents, making today’s tragedy all the more alarming for aviation analysts worldwide.
As rescue operations continue and next of kin await official word, the crash has reopened debate over India’s aviation safety protocols, emergency preparedness, and the need for faster communication during airborne crises.
The coming days will be critical as authorities sift through wreckage, decode flight data, and determine what led to such a sudden and devastating failure just moments after take-off. For now, India and the world mourn the lives lost and hope for clarity, justice, and improved safety in the skies.
