India .A London-bound Air India passenger plane carrying 242 people crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, in what officials are calling a “tragic accident.”
The aircraft, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was en route to London Gatwick when it went down just beyond the airport perimeter shortly after issuing a mayday call, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Thick plumes of black smoke were seen rising from the crash site by an AFP journalist, as rescue and emergency teams rushed to respond. Ahmedabad is the largest city in Gujarat state, home to approximately eight million people, and its airport is surrounded by densely populated residential neighborhoods, raising additional concerns about the extent of the disaster.
India’s Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, said he was “shocked and devastated” by the crash and has instructed all aviation and emergency response agencies to act swiftly and in coordination.
“Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site,” he said, adding, “My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families.”
The DGCA confirmed that the flight had two pilots and 10 cabin crew among the 242 people on board.
Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran confirmed the crash in an official statement. “With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad to London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today,” he said. “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event.”
The airline has activated an emergency response centre and set up a support team for families seeking information about the passengers.
India has a long history of deadly aviation disasters. Notably, in 1996, two passenger jets collided mid-air over New Delhi, killing nearly 350 people. In 2010, an Air India Express flight crashed and burst into flames while landing in Mangalore, killing 158 of the 166 people on board.
One of the worst tragedies occurred in 1985, when an Air India Boeing 747 flying from Montreal to London crashed off the coast of Ireland after a bomb planted by Sikh militants exploded mid-air, killing all 329 people on board.
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