Passenger plane heading to London crashes in India
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London Gatwick-bound flight crashes with 242 people aboard right after India take-off
- An Air India flight AI171, bound for London Gatwick with 232 passengers and 12 crew members, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat, India, at 1.39pm local time (8.09am BST).
- The Boeing 787 aircraft crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar, located outside the airport perimeter, after the pilot made a mayday call to air traffic control with no subsequent response.
- India’s civil aviation authority, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), reported heavy black smoke at the crash site and confirmed that emergency teams have been deployed.
- Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu expressed his condolences and assured swift action, stating that rescue teams have been mobilised to provide medical aid and relief support.
- The flight was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with 8,200 hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours; London Gatwick confirmed the flight was due to land at 18:25 local time.