Tragedy in Ahmedabad: Air India flight crashes; 265 dead
Ahmedabad, June 12: In a catastrophe that has plunged the nation into mourning, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed into a densely populated area of Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon, minutes after take-off, leaving at least 265 people dead, India Today reported.
The flight bound for London with 242 people on board crashed near Ahmedabad airport during take-off with only one passenger miraculously surviving the crash.
The ill-fated aircraft, under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar, departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 pm.
Barely airborne, the aircraft issued a Mayday call before vanishing from radar.
Within minutes, it slammed into the doctorsí hostel complex of the B J Medical College and Civil Hospital near Meghaninagar, bursting into a massive fireball, leaving many others besides the people onboard the aircraft also dead and critically injured.
Among the 230 passengers onboard were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian.
In addition to the two pilots, 10 Air India cabin crew members were also onboard.
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was confirmed among the deceased.
The scene of the crash is one of unparalleled devastation.
The aircraft fell just outside the airport perimeter, tearing through the hospitalís residential block ñ a facility meant to house doctors and interns - and sparked a massive inferno that quickly engulfed the surrounding structures.
Thick, black smoke billowed over the city skyline as sirens wailed.
Over 90 NDRF personnel were deployed from Gandhinagar, while local Police, firefighters, and emergency services cordoned off the area.
Roads leading to the site were placed under immediate lockdown to ensure unhindered access for rescue teams.
Despite the swift response, recovery operations were hampered by high temperatures, structural collapses, and the intensity of the fire.
Authorities worked through the evening to retrieve bodies from the charred wreckage, with many burnt beyond recognition.
Sources at Air Traffic Control (ATC) said that flight AI171 made a distress call moments after departing runway 23.
ìThe pilot reported an engine fire and rapidly descending altitude,î an official said on condition of anonymity. ìSubsequent calls went unanswered.î
Captain Sabharwal was a seasoned pilot with over 8200 flying hours, while his co-pilot had logged 1100 hours.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has grounded all similar Boeing 787-8 aircraft in Air Indiaís fleet pending a full technical audit.
Investigators from the DGCA and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have reached the crash site.
Boeing has also been informed and is expected to dispatch a team of experts from Seattle.
In an official statement on social media platform X, Air India confirmed the incident posting, ìFlight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick was involved in an accident today shortly after take-off. Of the 242 passengers and crew, nationalities include 169 Indians, 53 British, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. The injured are being treated at nearby hospitals. We are cooperating fully with investigative authorities.î
A dedicated helpline 1800 5691 444 has been set up for families and relatives.
Air India has also dispatched senior officials to Ahmedabad to oversee relief efforts and liaise with local authorities.
This crash stands as one of the gravest aviation tragedies in Indiaís recent memory.
It evokes chilling parallels with the 2010 Mangalore crash that killed 158 and the 2020 Kozhikode disaster that took 21 lives.
The last time Air India suffered such a monumental loss was the 1985 bombing of Kanishka Flight 182 over the Atlantic.
Black box of Indian aviation history
After a London-bound Air India aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday, the spotlight is back on India's history of aviation disasters.
From deadly mid-air collisions and fatal crashes due to poor weather conditions to runway overshoots at tabletop airports, the country has witnessed several tragedies over the decades.
Here's a list of the most devastating air accidents in India's aviation history:
Air India Express Flight 1344 (2020)
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Air India Express Flight 1344, operating as part of the Vande Bharat repatriation mission, skidded off the runway while landing at the Kozhikode (Calicut) International Airport on August 7, 2020. Amid heavy rainfall, the aircraft overshot the wet tabletop runway, plunged into a valley and split into two. Of the 190 people on board, 21, including two pilots, lost their lives.
Air India Express Flight 812 (2010)
Air India Express Flight 812 overshot the runway while landing at the Mangaluru International Airport in Karnataka on May 22, 2010. The Boeing 737-800, coming from Dubai, plunged into a gorge beyond the tabletop runway and burst into flames, killing 158 people. The tragic incident brought increased scrutiny to India's tabletop airports and landing protocols during adverse conditions.
Alliance Air Flight 7412 (2000)
Alliance Air Flight 7412 crashed into a densely populated residential area in Bihar's Patna while attempting to land on July 17, 2000. The Boeing 737-200 experienced a stall at low altitude due to the reported improper handling during the final approach. Sixty people were killed, including five on the ground. The accident prompted upgrades to approach procedures at smaller urban airports.
Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision (1996)
On November 12, 1996, 349 people were killed in what became India's most devastating aviation disaster. The tragedy occurred when Saudia Flight 763, a Boeing 747, and Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907, an Ilyushin Il-76, collided mid-air near Charkhi Dadri in Haryana. The accident was the result of a communication failure and the Kazakh crew descending below their assigned altitude. Following the incident, India introduced significant aviation safety measures, including mandating the installation of Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS) on all commercial aircraft.
Indian Airlines Flight 605 (1990)
On February 14, 1990, Indian Airlines Flight 605 crashed while approaching Bengaluru's HAL Airport, killing 92 of the 146 people on board. The Airbus A320, a relatively new aircraft in India at the time, descended too low and hit the ground short of the runway, skidding onto a golf course. The investigation revealed that pilot error and unfamiliarity with the advanced digital cockpit of the A320 contributed to the tragic accident.
Indian Airlines Flight 113 (1988)
Amid poor visibility on October 19, 1988, Indian Airlines Flight 113, a Boeing 737-200, crashed on its approach to Ahmedabad Airport. The flight, arriving from Mumbai, struck trees and crashed short of the runway, killing 133 of the 135 people on board. Investigators pointed to pilot error, inadequate weather information, and procedural lapses by air traffic control.
Air India Flight 855 (1978)
On January 1, 1978, Dubai-bound Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747, plunged into the Arabian Sea shortly after taking off from Mumbai, killing all 213 people on board. The disaster occurred only 101 seconds into the flight when a faulty Attitude Director Indicator led the captain to misinterpret the aircraft's orientation. The crash took place in nighttime conditions over the sea, contributing to the crew's spatial disorientation.
Indian Airlines Flight 440 (1973)
On May 31, 1973, Indian Airlines Flight 440 crashed during its approach to Delhiís Palam Airport. The Boeing 737-200 encountered severe weather and struck high-tension wires just short of the runway. Of the 65 people on board, 48 died. Among the dead was prominent Indian politician Mohan Kumaramangalam. The crash underscored the need for improved weather radar at Indian airports.
