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An Air India plane with over 200 people on board crashed in Ahmedabad, India, shortly after departure. Initially, authorities believed there were no survivors, but it has since been reported that at least one person survived the crash.
The flight, Air India AI 171, was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London’s Gatwick Airport. The crash occurred in the residential area of Meghani Nagar just five minutes after takeoff at 1:38 p.m. local time. The plane carried 242 passengers and crew members.
Rescuers managed to locate a survivor near seat 11A next to an emergency exit on the aircraft. Vidhi Chaudhary, a local police officer, confirmed this information to Reuters.
“Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed,” that man, Ramesh Viswashkumar, was quoted as telling the Hindustan Times. “It all happened so quickly.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said, “The FAA is in contact with the NTSB regarding Air India flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad (AMD) to London Gatwick (LGW), that was involved in an accident in India on Thursday, June 12.”
“When an international incident occurs, that government leads the investigation. In the event assistance is requested, the NTSB is the official U.S. representative and the FAA provides technical support. We stand ready to launch a team immediately in coordination with the NTSB,” it added.
People stand around the debris of an airplane after it crashed in India’s northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state on Thursday. (AP/Ajit Solanki)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us.”
“It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected,” he continued.
The tail of the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane that crashed is seen stuck on a building after the incident in Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday. (Reuters/Amit Dave/TPX Images of the Day)
“The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer added.
India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu posted on X that rescue teams have been mobilized, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support at the site.
Firefighters work to put out a fire at the site of the crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday. (Reuters/Amit Dave/TPX Images of the Day)
“We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation,” he said.
The 787 Dreamliner is a widebody, twin-engine plane. This is the first crash ever of a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.
Air India flight AI 171 was heading from Ahmedabad to London. (Fox News)
The aircraft was introduced in 2009 and more than 1,000 have been delivered to dozens of airlines, Flightradar24 reported.
“We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected,” Boeing said in a statement.
In August 2020 an Air India Express Boeing-737 skidded off a hilltop runway in southern India, killing 21 people.
A map showing the location where the Air India plane crashed. (Fox News)
The worst air disaster in India was on Nov. 12, 1996, when a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight collided midair with a Kazakhastan Airlines Flight near Charki Dadri in Haryana state, killing all 349 on board the two planes.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
