Latest news with #CivilAviationMinister
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
At least 270 bodies recovered from Air India crash site in Ahmedabad
At least 270 bodies have been recovered after a London-bound Air India plane crashed in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, as a rescue team continues to search the site of India's worst aviation disaster in three decades. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with 242 people on board and 125,000 litres of fuel, lost altitude seconds after takeoff on Thursday and crashed into a residential area, killing all but one on board and at least two dozen others on the ground. Dhaval Gameti, a doctor at Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, told The Associated Press news agency on Saturday that they have received 270 bodies so far. Most bodies were charred or mutilated, and the local authorities are working to identify them by matching DNA samples as their relatives waited to perform their last rites. Authorities said it normally takes up to 72 hours to complete DNA 10 bodies – not of the passengers – found at the crash site have been returned to their families after identification, a local official told Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media. Of the 242 passengers and crew on board the Air India plane, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were British, seven were Portuguese, and one was Canadian. The lone survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, is under observation at the Civil Hospital for his impact wounds. Gameti said he was 'doing very well and will be ready to be discharged any time soon'. India's Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, said the flight's digital data recorder, or the black box, was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is leading the investigation into the crash. He said the government will look into all possible theories of what could have caused the crash. The AAIB said it was working with 'full force' to extract the data, which is expected to reveal information about the engine and control settings. Meanwhile, forensic teams are still looking for a second black box. Jeff Guzzetti, an aviation safety consultant and former crash investigator for both the US National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration, told the AP the investigators should be able to answer some important questions about what caused the crash as soon as next week as long as the flight data recorder is in good shape. Guzzetti said the investigators are likely looking into whether wing flaps were set correctly, the engine lost power, alarms were going off inside the cockpit, and if the plane's crew correctly logged information about the hot temperature outside, and the weight of the fuel and passengers. Mistakes in the data could result in the wing flaps being set incorrectly, he added. There are currently about 1,200 of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide, and this was the first deadly crash in 16 years of operation, according to experts. The United States planemaker Boeing, whose planes have been plagued by safety issues on other types of aircraft, said it was in touch with Air India and stood 'ready to support them' over the incident.
CTV News
2 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Canadian among 242 passengers on U.K.-bound plane that crashed in India after takeoff
Firefighters work at the site of an airplane that crashed in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) AHMEDABAD, India -- People on the crashed flight included Indians, British, Portuguese and a Canadian, Air India says. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows below. AHMEDABAD, India (AP) -- An Air India passenger plane bound for London with 244 people onboard crashed Thursday in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad, the airline and local media reported. Visuals on local television channels showed smoke billowing from the crash site near the airport in Ahmedabad, a city with a population of more than 5 million. Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the directorate of civil aviation, told The Associated Press that Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8, crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar five minutes after taking off at 1:38 p.m. local time. There were 232 passengers and 12 crew members onboard the flight, which had been bound for London's Gatwick Airport, Kidwai said. Gatwick posted on X that it could confirm the flight, which had been due to arrive at 6:25 p.m. in London, had crashed on departure. India's Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu posted on X that rescue teams have been mobilized, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support at the site. 'We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation,' he said. The 787 Dreamliner is a widebody, twin-engine plane. This is the first crash ever of a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. The aircraft was introduced in 2009 and more than 1,000 have been delivered to dozens of airlines, according to the flightradar24 website. Air India's chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, said at the moment 'our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families.' He said on X that the airline had set up an emergency center and support team for families seeking information about those who were on the flight. 'Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event,' he said. ------ By Ajit Solanki and Rajesh Roy, The Associated Press Roy reported from New Delhi. Sheikh Saaliq in Srinagar, India, and Annika Wolters, David Rising, Adam Schreck and Lorian Belanger in Bangkok contributed to this report.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
London-bound Air India passenger plane with 244 aboard crashes after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India
AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — An Air India passenger plane bound for London with 244 people onboard crashed Thursday in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad, the airline and local media reported. Visuals on local television channels showed smoke billowing from the crash site near the airport in Ahmedabad, a city with a population of more than 5 million. Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the directorate of civil aviation, told The Associated Press that Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8, crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar five minutes after taking off at 1:38 p.m. local time. There were 232 passengers and 12 crew members onboard the flight, which had been bound for London's Gatwick Airport, Kidwai said. Gatwick posted on X that it could confirm the flight, which had been due to arrive at 6:25 p.m. in London, had crashed on departure. India's Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu posted on X that rescue teams have been mobilized, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support at the site. 'We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation,' he said. The 787 Dreamliner is a widebody, twin-engine plane. This is the first crash ever of a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. The aircraft was introduced in 2009 and more than 1,000 have been delivered to dozens of airlines, according to the flightradar24 website. Air India's chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, said at the moment 'our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families.' He said on X that the airline had set up an emergency center and support team for families seeking information about those who were on the flight. 'Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event,' he said. ___ Roy reported from New Delhi. Sheikh Saaliq in Srinagar, India, and Annika Wolters, David Rising, Adam Schreck and Lorian Belanger in Bangkok contributed to this report.
Sky News
2 days ago
- General
- Sky News
What we know so far after Air India flight to London Gatwick crashes
Why you can trust Sky News An Air India flight which was on route to London Gatwick has crashed in India. At least 242 people were on board the flight when it crashed in the northwestern Indian city of Ahmedabad, police have said. Here is what we know so far. Where did the plane crash? Air India flight AI171 took off from Ahmedabad Airport just after 1pm local time on Thursday. The plane's final signal was received just seconds after take-off, according to flight tracking website, Flightradar. The aircraft had reached 625ft. India's aviation regulator said the plane crashed to the ground outside the perimeter of Ahmedabad's airport. Footage from the scene shows thick black smoke rising towards the sky near the airport. It also shows images of people being moved in stretchers and taken away in ambulances. What we know about the plane Flightradar lists the aircraft as a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Air India confirmed that the plane had crashed in a statement on X. It said: "Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025." The airline said it is currently "ascertaining the details" and would share further details on its social media sites and website. London Gatwick also confirmed that the flight was meant to arrive in the UK at 6.25pm local time this evening. 'Shocked and devastated' India's civil aviation minister has said he is "shocked and devastated" by the plane crash. "I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action," Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said. "Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site.
The Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Sun
India plane crash LIVE: Boeing 787 heading for London Gatwick carrying 242 people crashes in fireball after take-off
A PASSENGER plane heading to London has crash landed in India. At least 242 people were on board the Air India aircraft as it smashed into the ground near to an airport in Ahmedabad. 3 3 3 The plane was headed to London Gatwick in the UK, Air India confirmed. There were reportedly 230 passengers and 12 crew on board. According to flight tracking website Flightradar, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner's final signal was received just seconds after take-off. This was last logged at 10.08am local time - less than a minute after it started its journey. It had only reached 625 feet at the time, officials believe. In a statement the airline said: "Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick was involved in an accident on 12 June 2025. "At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest opportunity." Police said the plane crashed into a "civilian area" in Meghaninagar. Officials are yet to comment on if there are any casualties. The aircraft was attempting to take off from Ahmedabad Airport when it crashed, local TV channels reported. A fireball explosion is said to have erupted near to the airport as footage shows thick plumes of black smoke quickly pouring into the skies. The Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services Department quickly deployed over five fire-fighting teams to the site as well as dozens of ambulances. Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, the Civil Aviation Minister, said in a statement: "Shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad. "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. "Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site. "My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families." It is still unclear what caused the disaster.
