Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 12: Air India on Thursday confirmed that its flight AI171, en route to London’s Gatwick airport, was involved in a crash shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which took off at 1:38 PM IST, was carrying 242 people, including passengers and crew members. Among them were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese citizens, and 1 Canadian national. The airline has stated that the injured are being rushed to nearby hospitals.
In a statement, Air India said, “We have set up a dedicated passenger hotline number, 1800 5691 444, to provide information. Air India is fully cooperating with authorities in the ongoing investigation.”
Following the crash, all flight operations at Ahmedabad airport have been suspended until further notice.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft, registered as VT-ANB, crashed moments after departure from runway 23. The plane had issued a MAYDAY call before it lost contact with air traffic control. Eyewitnesses reported thick black smoke at the site of the crash, located in Ahmedabad’s Meghaninagar area.
The aircraft was under the command of Capt Sumeet Sabharwal, a senior pilot with over 8,200 flight hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had clocked 1,100 flight hours.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, who was in Vijayawada at the time, rushed to Ahmedabad upon learning about the incident. “Shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad. Rescue and medical teams have been mobilised. I am personally monitoring the situation,” he said in a statement on X.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has activated an Operational Control Room to coordinate rescue, relief, and investigation efforts, in collaboration with DGCA, AAI, and local authorities.