A major aviation incident occurred near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Wednesday, as an Air India flight bound for London reportedly crashed just meters away from the runway. Visuals captured shortly before the crash have gone viral on social media, showing smoke billowing near the Meghani Nagar area, where the crash site is located.

The flight in question, Air India AI171, was operating a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (VT-ANB) and was scheduled to depart for London Gatwick at 13:10 IST, with a revised departure time of 13:38 IST. According to ANI, the State Police Control Room confirmed the aircraft had 242 passengers on board at the time of the crash.

Eyewitness footage shows a plume of thick black smoke, fire near the airport boundary, and emergency response units rushing to the scene. The flight’s status was marked as “estimated” at the time of the incident, raising questions about whether the aircraft was airborne or still preparing for takeoff.

Authorities have yet to confirm the cause of the crash or the condition of the passengers. Rescue and firefighting operations are ongoing, while officials from Air India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are expected to release official statements soon.

As visuals before the crash go viral, social media is flooded with unverified footage and updates.

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