Air India Dreamliner Crashes, Leaves Many Dead and Injured

TDT | Manama

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An Air India flight bound for London’s Gatwick Airport crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing an unconfirmed number of people and injuring many others, officials said.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people—including 217 adults and 11 children—went down in a civilian area near the airport, striking a doctors' hostel minutes after departure. Authorities confirmed that a Mayday call was issued, but the aircraft lost communication shortly after.

The aircraft took off from Runway 23 at 1:39 p.m. local time. Eyewitnesses reported seeing flames and thick smoke rising near the crash site, while video footage showed the aircraft disappearing over residential rooftops before a fireball lit up the sky.

Rescue teams have cleared about 80% of the affected area and are continuing to search for survivors. Dozens of injured individuals have been transported to local hospitals.

Of the passengers, 169 were Indian nationals, while 53 were from the UK, seven from Portugal, and one from Canada.

India's Health Minister confirmed "many fatalities," while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed all federal agencies to extend full support to rescue operations. The airport suspended all flight operations immediately following the crash.

The crash marks one of the deadliest aviation incidents in India since 2020 and casts a shadow over Tata Group’s revitalization efforts for Air India since its acquisition in 2022. Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, said it is investigating the incident.

British authorities said they are in touch with Indian officials and are working to assist affected families.

Ahmedabad, located in Modi’s home state of Gujarat, is home to a large population and was bustling at the time of the crash. Local authorities and Adani Group, which operates the airport, expressed condolences and pledged full cooperation in ongoing relief efforts.

More updates to follow as the investigation continues.