In a devastating aviation tragedy, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner operating flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London (Gatwick) crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday afternoon, with over 240 people on board. Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik confirmed to the Associated Press that “there appear to be no survivors.”
The aircraft, which departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:39 IST, reportedly lost contact moments after issuing a “MAYDAY” distress call to Air Traffic Control. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft fell just beyond the airport perimeter in Meghaninagar, a densely populated area, triggering a massive blaze visible from miles away.
Commissioner Malik also stated that locals in the vicinity may have also died due to the crash impact. “Some locals would have also died. Exact figures on casualties are being ascertained,” he told the AP.
Aircraft, Crew & Flight Details
The crashed aircraft, bearing registration VT-ANB, was being flown by Capt. Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned pilot with 8,200 flying hours, alongside First Officer Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 hours of experience. The DGCA confirmed that there were 242 people onboard — including 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew.
TV9 had earlier reported that former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the passengers. Although some early claims were unverified or later deleted (including a now-deleted tweet by MP Parimal Nathwani), his name reportedly appeared on the official passenger manifest.
Expert Reactions
John McDermid, a professor of computer science and safety engineering at the University of York, noted that the accident was “very surprising at first glance.” He said, “It seems like the problem occurred very suddenly in the final part of the takeoff roll, or shortly after takeoff, and was sufficiently serious to be unmanageable.”
He emphasized that modern jets are equipped with multiple safety redundancies, including the ability to continue flying with a single engine, making the incident even more unusual.
Global Reactions and Investigation
The accident has sparked international concern, with multiple foreign nationals onboard, including 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian passenger, along with 169 Indian nationals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with Home Minister Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and directed them to reach Ahmedabad to oversee rescue and assistance efforts. An emergency response center has been activated by Air India, and investigations are underway by the DGCA and Boeing.
The incident has cast a shadow over the safety record of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which had, until this accident, no confirmed fatal crashes since its introduction.
