Air India flight bound for London crashes at India's Ahmedabad airport
Air India flight bound for London crashes at India's Ahmedabad airport
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Air India plane headed for London crashes at Ahmedabad airport
An Air India plane bound for London with 242 people on board crashed minutes after taking off from India's Ahmedabad on Thursday, police said.
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LONDON − A London-bound Air India passenger plane with more than 200 people on board crashed shortly after taking off from an airport in India's western city of Ahmedabad, the airline and police officials said June 12.
It wasn't immediately clear if there were any fatalities. A rescue operation appeared to be underway.
The plane was headed to London's Gatwick airport, Air India said. A police statement said it crashed in a civilian area near the airport. Early reports suggested the plane may have come down on a hostel housing doctors. "We are ascertaining the details and will share further updates," Air India said in a statement.
According to local media, the crash occurred as the aircraft was taking off from Ahmedabad airport, which is about 600 miles southwest of India's capital, New Delhi. TV visuals showed people being moved in stretchers and taken away in ambulances. Thick black smoke rose into the sky near the airport.
The Boeing 787-8 aircraft was carrying 242 passengers and crew members. Air India said of these, 169 were Indian nationals; 53 were British; 7 were Portuguese; and one was Canadian.
No Americans were reported on board.
Air India plane, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashes
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "stunned and saddened" by the crash. Britain's King Charles and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer released statements saying they were being updated.
Air India flight 171 was operated by an 11.5-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, according to airfleets.net, an industry website. The plane had been in Air India's fleet since it left the production line.
This is the first-ever hull loss involving a Boeing 787 since its entry into service in 2011. The flight was helmed by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who reportedly had 8,200 hours of flying experience. The co-pilot, First Officer Clive Kundar, had 1,100 hours logged flying time, according to local news outlet Business Today.
Flightradar24 data shows the aircraft, identified as VT-ANB, had flown from New Delhi to Ahmedabad earlier in the day. The plane last sent a signal to airport authorities when it was at 625 feet in the air.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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