An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed into a residential area shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday, with local authorities confirming mass casualties and widespread devastation.
The aircraft, operating as Flight 171 and bound for London Gatwick, lost contact with air traffic control less than a minute after takeoff at approximately 1:38 p.m. local time. Eyewitness footage captured the plane’s rapid descent followed by a fiery explosion and thick plumes of smoke rising from the crash site. Early indications suggest the plane reached a maximum altitude of only 625 feet before plummeting at a vertical speed of nearly 500 feet per minute.
According to the Ahmedabad police commissioner, more than 200 bodies have been recovered, and officials believe there were no survivors among the passengers or crew, though unconfirmed reports point to the possible survival of one passenger. Of the 242 individuals on board, 230 were passengers and 12 were crew members. The passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian.
The aircraft involved in the crash had been in service since 2014, accumulating approximately 41,000 flight hours over 8,000 takeoffs. It was powered by two GE Aerospace engines. Both Boeing and GE have issued statements expressing their condolences and affirming their cooperation with the investigation.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson addressed the tragedy in a video message, pledging full support for the families of victims and affirming that the airline is focused entirely on relief and aid efforts. Several passengers who survived the initial impact were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, though their conditions remain unclear.
India’s aviation minister confirmed that rescue operations were underway, and flights at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport were temporarily suspended to facilitate emergency response teams. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has announced it will dispatch investigators to assist Indian authorities with the crash probe, which is expected to take months due to the complexity of analyzing black box data and aircraft systems.
This crash marks what appears to be the first fatal accident involving the Boeing Dreamliner series, a model widely used for international long-haul routes. The timing is particularly sensitive for Boeing, which had been preparing for the Paris Air Show next week, an event expected to showcase significant commercial deals and technological advancements.
Stock markets reacted swiftly to the tragedy, with Boeing shares falling more than 4% in early trading. The accident adds fresh scrutiny to Boeing’s efforts to restore confidence in its safety and manufacturing practices following a series of high-profile incidents in recent years.
