A passenger plane operating as Air India flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London (Gatwick) reportedly crashed just meters away from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. The aircraft involved is a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with registration number VT-ANB, and it was scheduled to depart at 13:10 IST, with an estimated revised departure of 13:38 IST, according to flight tracking data.
Reports from the State Police Control Room, cited by ANI, confirm that the aircraft had 242 passengers on board. The crash occurred in the Meghani Nagar area, close to the airport perimeter. Thick black smoke and fire were reported at the site, with visuals showing emergency teams and ambulances rushing in.
While initial reports suggested the aircraft had taken off, flight data currently indicates the departure was delayed and marked as “estimated.” The circumstances of the crash remain unclear, and authorities have yet to confirm whether the aircraft was airborne at the time of the incident.
Rescue and firefighting operations are ongoing, and further information regarding casualties or survivors is awaited. Civil aviation and airline officials have yet to issue an official statement.
Disclaimer: This report is based on early and developing information. Official updates from aviation authorities and Air India are awaited.
