The Traffic

Air India Flight to London Crashes Shortly After Takeoff from Ahmedabad

By Achimi muktar 

What was meant to be a routine international flight turned into a nightmare on Thursday afternoon, as Air India Flight AI171 — a Boeing 787 Dreamliner headed to London Gatwick — crashed just minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport, sending shockwaves through India and the global aviation community.

The flight, carrying 242 people including 230 passengers and 12 crew members, went down in Meghani Nagar, a densely populated neighborhood only five minutes into its journey. The aircraft had taken off at 1:38 PM IST before issuing a distress signal, declaring a Mayday that tragically became reality moments later.

Eyewitness videos that have since gone viral show plumes of thick black smoke and fierce flames rising above the crash site. Several residential buildings were reportedly damaged in the incident, with rescue efforts ongoing deep into the evening.

Onboard the ill-fated flight were 169 Indian nationals, along with 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian citizen. Among them were 11 children, many likely flying to reunite with family or begin summer holidays.

Early casualty figures are grim, with at least 40–49 confirmed fatalities and many more injured. Survivors are being rushed to nearby hospitals as rescue teams — including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) — dig through the wreckage, hoping for miracles.

The flight was captained by Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned aviator with over 8,200 flight hours, while Clive Kundar, a younger co-pilot, had around 1,100 hours logged.

Although no official cause has been declared, initial speculation points to a possible bird strike during takeoff, potentially causing engine failure or severe technical complications. Investigators have cordoned off the crash site and black box recovery efforts are underway.

This incident marks the first-ever fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a model long praised for its safety and efficiency. The disaster has prompted the temporary shutdown of all flight operations at Ahmedabad Airport, affecting hundreds of travelers.

As images of charred fuselage and emergency responders flash across news screens and social media, India and the wider world mourn the lives lost and await answers.

This tragic crash has once again put aviation safety, emergency response readiness, and airport wildlife hazard management in the spotlight.