Latest news with #Meghaninagar
The Independent
a day ago
- General
- The Independent
Mapped: Final flight path of doomed Air India plane before it crashed with 242 people on board
A plane disaster in India that has killed a t least 240 people unfolded within a matter of minutes. The Boeing 787-8 aircraft took off from Ahmedabad airport in western India at 1.38pm local time (8.08am BST) on Thursday, FlightRadar shows. The Air India flight was destined for London Gatwick and had been due to arrive by 6.25pm London time. But soon after takeoff the flight made a mayday call to air traffic control, India's civil aviation authority said. There was no response to subsequent calls made by controllers to the aircraft and aviation tracker FlightRadar24 said it lost the aircraft's signal in less than a minute. The plane did not ascend very high before it rapidly plummeted into the city and exploding in a deadly fireball. 'Initial ADS-B data from flight #AI171 shows that the aircraft reached a maximum barometric altitude of 625 feet (airport altitude is about 200 feet) and then it started to descend with a vertical speed of -475 feet per minute,' the flight tracking service said. Ordinarily the Dreamliner would reach a cruising altitude of 41,000ft on the roughly ten hour flight to London. The plane went down in the Meghaninagar area, a densely populated neighbourhood in Ahmedabad. The plane struck the BJ Medical College, which is part of the Civil Hospital, close to the airport, triggering a fireball that sent plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky. Students were reportedly having lunch there when the crash occurred. TV footage showed flames rising behind homes and emergency services began dousing the flames and pulling people from the wreckage and surrounding buildings on stretchers. Ahmedabad, where the crash occurred, is the largest city in the western Indian state of Gujarat. With an estimated population of more than 8.8 million people, it is the seventh-largest city in India. The city is close to the border with Pakistan, and is about 370 miles by air from the Pakistani city of Karachi. Ahmedabad is a roughly 270-mile flight from Mumbai. Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of Air India 's parent company Tata Group, described the crash as a 'tragic accident' and a 'devastating event'. He said the airline had set up an emergency centre and deployed a dedicated support team to assist the affected families. 'Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event,' Mr Chandrasekaran said in a statement. 'We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care.' There are more than 1,000 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners in service with airlines globally, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, both of which maintain strong safety records. This is the first fatal crash involving the 787, according to the Aviation Safety Network. The Dreamliner that crashed had been delivered to Air India in early 2014, having had its first flight in December 2013. The carrier, formerly owned by the Indian government, was privatised in 2022 and taken over by Tata Group. In 2024, it was merged with Vistara, a joint venture between Tata and Singapore Airlines. Air India has long faced criticism for flight delays and cancellations, often due to a shortage of spare parts and grounded aircraft. A recent analysis by the Press Association named it the worst-performing airline for UK departures last year, with flights departing on average more than 45 minutes late. The last fatal crash involving an Indian carrier occurred in 2020, when an Air India Express Boeing 737 overran a runway at Kozhikode in southern Kerala state, killing 21 people.
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Mapped: Final flight path of doomed Air India plane before it crashed with more than 240 people on board
A plane disaster in India that has killed a t least 290 people unfolded within a matter of minutes. The Boeing 787-8 aircraft took off from Ahmedabad airport in western India at 1.38pm local time (8.08am BST) on Thursday, FlightRadar shows. The Air India flight was destined for London Gatwick and had been due to arrive by 6.25pm London time. But soon after takeoff the flight made a mayday call to air traffic control, India's civil aviation authority said. There was no response to subsequent calls made by controllers to the aircraft and aviation tracker FlightRadar24 said it lost the aircraft's signal in less than a minute. The plane did not ascend very high before it rapidly plummeted into the city and exploding in a deadly fireball. 'Initial ADS-B data from flight #AI171 shows that the aircraft reached a maximum barometric altitude of 625 feet (airport altitude is about 200 feet) and then it started to descend with a vertical speed of -475 feet per minute,' the flight tracking service said. Ordinarily the Dreamliner would reach a cruising altitude of 41,000ft on the roughly ten hour flight to London. The plane went down in the Meghaninagar area, a densely populated neighbourhood in Ahmedabad. The plane struck the BJ Medical College, which is part of the Civil Hospital, close to the airport, triggering a fireball that sent plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky. Students were reportedly having lunch there when the crash occurred. TV footage showed flames rising behind homes and emergency services began dousing the flames and pulling people from the wreckage and surrounding buildings on stretchers. Ahmedabad, where the crash occurred, is the largest city in the western Indian state of Gujarat. With an estimated population of more than 8.8 million people, it is the seventh-largest city in India. The city is close to the border with Pakistan, and is about 370 miles by air from the Pakistani city of Karachi. Ahmedabad is a roughly 270-mile flight from Mumbai. Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of Air India 's parent company Tata Group, described the crash as a 'tragic accident' and a 'devastating event'. He said the airline had set up an emergency centre and deployed a dedicated support team to assist the affected families. 'Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event,' Mr Chandrasekaran said in a statement. 'We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care.' There are more than 1,000 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners in service with airlines globally, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, both of which maintain strong safety records. This is the first fatal crash involving the 787, according to the Aviation Safety Network. The Dreamliner that crashed had been delivered to Air India in early 2014, having had its first flight in December 2013. The carrier, formerly owned by the Indian government, was privatised in 2022 and taken over by Tata Group. In 2024, it was merged with Vistara, a joint venture between Tata and Singapore Airlines. Air India has long faced criticism for flight delays and cancellations, often due to a shortage of spare parts and grounded aircraft. A recent analysis by the Press Association named it the worst-performing airline for UK departures last year, with flights departing on average more than 45 minutes late. The last fatal crash involving an Indian carrier occurred in 2020, when an Air India Express Boeing 737 overran a runway at Kozhikode in southern Kerala state, killing 21 people.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
'Shaken, speechless': Bollywood stars in shock over Ahmedabad plane crash
[Editor's Note: Follow KT's live blog for all the latest updates on the Ahmedabad plane crash.] Several Bollywood celebrities have expressed grief over the Air India plane crash in Gujarat's Ahmedabad. The Air India flight AI171, departing to Gatwick, London, crashed in the Meghaninagar area near the airport on Thursday while carrying 242 passengers. Bollywood heavyweight Shah Rukh Khan said he was "absolutely heartbroken" to hear the news. — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) June 12, 2025 Taking to her Instagram stories, Janhvi Kapoor wrote, "Shaken by the news of the Air India flight crash that took place shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The weight of such tragedies is impossible to put into words. Praying deeply for the passengers, the crew, and every family waiting for answers tonight." Sunny Deol wrote on X, "Devastated by the news of the plane crash in Ahmedabad. Praying with all my heart for survivors — may they be found and receive the care they need. May those who lost their lives rest in peace, and may their families find strength in this unimaginable time." Devastated by the news of the plane crash in Ahmedabad. Praying with all my heart for survivors â�� may they be found and receive the care they need. May those who lost their lives rest in peace, and may their families find strength in this unimaginable time. ð��� — Sunny Deol (@iamsunnydeol) June 12, 2025 "Can't imagine the pain of the family members of the ill fated Air India flight today. Praying for God to give them strength during this time," Parineeti Chopra wrote on X. Canâ��t imagine the pain of the family members of the ill fated Air India flight today. Praying for God to give them strength during this time. ð��� — Parineeti Chopra (@ParineetiChopra) June 12, 2025 Riteish Deshmukh also expressed shock in the tragic incident and wrote on X, "Absolutely heartbroken and in shock after hearing about the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad. My heart goes out to all the passengers, their families, and everyone affected on the ground. Holding them all in my thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time." Absolutely heartbroken and in shock after hearing about the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad. My heart goes out to all the passengers, their families, and everyone affected on the ground. Holding them all in my thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. — Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) June 12, 2025 Taking to X, Randeep Hooda added his condolences. "Heartbreaking to hear about the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected. Hoping for survivors and strength for the rescue teams. May the departed rest in peace, and may their families find the strength to endure this immense loss." Heartbreaking to hear about the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected. Hoping for survivors and strength for the rescue teams. May the departed rest in peace, and may their families find the strength to endure this immense loss. ð��� — Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) June 12, 2025 "Prayers for Air India flight that crashed in Ahmedabad after take off to London," wrote Sonu Sood, adding, "I have a feeling we will have survivors." Prayers for Air India flight that crashed in Ahmedabad after take off to London. ð��� — sonu sood (@SonuSood) June 12, 2025 Akshay Kumar expressed grief, saying, "Shocked and speechless at the Air India crash. Only prayers at this time" Shocked and speechless at the Air India crash. Only prayers at this time ð��� — Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) June 12, 2025 Karan Johar took to Instagram stories and wrote, "Devastating news about the ill fated AIR INDIA flight .... Information of lives lost and injured is still coming in... am praying for all onboard ... my thoughts and prayers for the families and loved ones of the passengers onboard...." "The news of the Ahmedabad plane crash is extremely sad and painful. I pray to God for everyone's safety, may God provide strength to all the affected families in this time of crisis," Kangana Ranaut wrote on X. à¤�हमदाबाद विमान हादसà¥� à¤�ा समाà¤�ार à¤�तà¥�यà¤�त दà¥�à¤�द à¤�वà¤� रà¥�ड़ादायà¤� हà¥�। à¤�शà¥�वर सà¥� सà¤à¥� à¤�à¥� सà¤�à¥�शल हà¥�नà¥� à¤�à¥� à¤�ामना à¤�रतà¥� हà¥�à¤�, à¤�शà¥�वर à¤�स सà¤�à¤�à¤� à¤�à¥� à¤�ड़à¥� मà¥�à¤� सà¤à¥� रà¥�रà¤à¤¾à¤µà¤¿à¤¤ ररिवारà¥�à¤� à¤�à¥� सà¤�बल रà¥�रदान à¤�रà¥�à¤�। — Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) June 12, 2025 #PlaneCrash #AirIndia #Ahmedabad — Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) June 12, 2025 According to an Air India statement, the Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating as Flight AI-171, departed from Ahmedabad at 1.38pm IST with 242 people on board, including crew. "Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals. The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals," the airline said in a statement. heartbreaking beyond words".
Russia Today
2 days ago
- General
- Russia Today
VIDEO shows Air India plane crash
Footage has emerged online showing the final moments of Air India Flight 171 before it crashed in an urban area shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, western India. The exact number of casualties is currently unknown, although the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had 242 people on board at the time of the incident. In the clip, the aircraft is seen flying at a low altitude with its nose tilted sharply upward and landing gear deployed. Despite this, the plane slowly descends and crashes in a residential area. Moments later, a fireball erupts and black smoke rises into the sky. Another video filmed at the crash site shows smoldering debris with a large crowd gathered nearby. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was operating a scheduled flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. According to Air India, there were 169 Indian, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian national on board. It added that all the injured are being transported to the nearest hospitals. Air India Flight AI 171 (Boeing 787 Dreamliner) from Ahmedabad to London carrying 242 passengers has crashed into Meghaninagar IGP Complex. Fire fighters at the spot and rescue ops underway. Devastating. Prayers🙏🏽 Media reports have provided different casualty estimates, all in the dozens. The cause of the crash is unclear. Boeing, one of the world's largest aircraft manufacturers, has faced mounting scrutiny in recent years due to a series of safety and quality control issues. Most notably, the Boeing 737 MAX was grounded globally between 2019 and 2020 following two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed 346 people. While the Boeing 787 has not faced as much public scrutiny as the Boeing 737 MAX, it has had issues related to lithium-ion batteries and general production quality control.
