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Air India 787 Crashes in Western India

The jet was bound for London Gatwick.

Air India Boeing 787

An Air India 787 in London (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner of Air India crashed during takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The aircraft, registered as VT-ANB, is an 11-year-old aircraft with MSN 36279.

The jet was delivered to Air India brand new in January 2014. The airline had 242 people on board, including 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew.

According to the manifest, “of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national, and 7 Portuguese nationals.”  Any news regarding fatalities is yet to be received

The flight was scheduled for takeoff at 1:10 p.m. local time from Ahmedabad, operating AI171 to London Gatwick. 

Footage available on social media shows large plumes of smoke with the aircraft crashing not too far away from the airport premises. 

The Aviation Minister of India, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, has posted on his official X account that “We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action.”

Visuals emerging from Ahmedabad show the 787’s APU exhaust and aft bulkhead portions resting atop a building.  

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has said that the pilot of the aircraft had made a mayday call moments before the crash. Statement from the DGCA states that the flight took off from runway 23 and no further communication was received after the mayday call. 

According to the authorities in Ahmedabad, 204 victims have been recovered, however, it has not been made clear whether they were from the aircraft or the ground. News of 41 people being injured has also surfaced, as shared by the BBC.

The aircraft had crashed into the premises of the nearby B.J. Medical College and Civil Hospital. A local politician claimed that doctors were rescued from the accommodation after the crash.

One passenger of the ill-fated AI171 has managed to survive. A British citizen, seated in seat 11A. Indian media reported him saying: “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.”

Another confirmed casualty of this incident is former Chief Minister of Gujrat, Vijay Rupani.

NTSB investigators are also on their way to India to help with the investigation.

This is a developing story. 

Authors

  • Devaansh Dhoot
  • Ryan Ewing

    Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

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