Air India Flight to London Crashes in Ahmedabad
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Skift Take
It's a tragic day for Indian aviation. The focus now is on supporting families and uncovering what went wrong.
Skift’s coverage of the Air India crash is offered free to all readers.
Air India flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed shortly after take-off on Thursday. The Boeing 787-8 aircraft went down in Gujarat’s Meghani Nagar area, just outside the airport perimeter, with 242 people on board.
The aircraft departed Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:38 hrs. Within five minutes, it was lost from radar. Eyewitnesses reported heavy black smoke rising from the crash site near a densely populated area. Ahmedabad airport has temporarily suspended all flight operations.
“With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India flight, AI 171 operating Ahmedabad London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today,” Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran said in a statement.
Passengers and Crew on Board
Air India confirmed that the aircraft was carrying 242 passengers and crew members. These included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese citizens and one Canadian. According to Indian aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), there were two pilots and 10 cabin crew members on board.
No official death or injury toll has been released yet.
"Tata Group will provide INR 10 million to the families of each person who has lost their life in this tragedy. We will also cover the medical expenses of those injured and ensure that they receive all necessary care and support," Chandrasekaran said in a statement.
Additionally, Tata Group has said it would also provide support in restoring BJ Medical College hostel, the building that the aircraft crashed into.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a line training captain with over 8,200 flying hours, was commanding the aircraft. First Officer Clive Kundar, with 1,100 flying hours, was assisting. The plane had flown from Delhi to Ahmedabad earlier that day before continuing on its international leg to London.
The DGCA, Air India, and Boeing are expected to investigate the cause of the crash. It is not yet known if the black box has been recovered. "Air India is giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident," the airline said in a statement.
Crash Circumstances and Emergency Response
The DGCA reported that the plane crashed just after lifting off from runway 23. A mayday call was sent to Air Traffic Control (ATC), but no further response was received from the cockpit.
“The aircraft, immediately after departure from Runway 23, fell on the ground outside the airport perimeter. Heavy black smoke was seen coming from the accident site,” the DGCA said.
Air India said that it has set up an emergency centre to support families. “At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families,” Chandrasekaran said. The airline has also set up a passenger hotline.
A statement from Gatwick Airport read, "We can confirm that flight AI171 that crashed on departure from Ahmedabad Airport today was due to land at London Gatwick at 18:25."
In a statement to the UK House of Commons, Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that British nationals were onboard Air India flight AI 171.
He added that the UK government is actively responding through its diplomatic channels: “We know that British nationals were on board, and I can confirm that the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) is working urgently with local authorities to support British nationals and their families and has stood up a crisis team both in Delhi and in London.”
Government and Local Response
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Yadav stated that immediate rescue and relief efforts are underway. “I have also instructed to arrange a green corridor to take the injured passengers for treatment and to ensure all the treatment arrangements in the hospital on priority,” he said.
Local emergency services, airport teams, and central agencies are coordinating to manage the scene and support survivors and families.
Air India is arranging two special relief flights to Ahmedabad for the families of passengers and airline staff affected by the crash, departing at 11pm on Thursday.
The airline has said family members in Delhi or Mumbai who wish to travel on these flights can contact the airline’s domestic hotline at 1800 5691 444. For those arriving from overseas, assistance is available through the international support line at +91 8062779200.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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