Air India Flight 171 has crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad in India, carrying at least 242 people, local authorities confirmed.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport and was scheduled to land at 6:25 p.m. local time (17:25 GMT). According to flight tracking data from Flightradar24, the aircraft went down moments after departure from Ahmedabad Airport. The city’s police commissioner told The Associated Press that there appear to be no survivors, marking one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.
The airline confirmed that the flight had 242 passengers and crew on board, including Indian, British, Portuguese, and Canadian nationals. Among the victims were 53 British passengers, prompting the U.K. government to offer consular support. Gatwick Airport has established a reception center for relatives of those on board, providing information and assistance to grieving families. In a social media statement, the airport urged concerned individuals to contact the Foreign Office helpline at 020 7008 5000 for further assistance.
Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into the cause of the crash, with early reports suggesting possible technical failure. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, but the severity of the impact left little hope of finding survivors. Aviation experts and Boeing representatives are expected to join Indian officials in examining the wreckage and flight data recorders to determine what went wrong. The incident has reignited concerns over aviation safety, particularly involving long-haul aircraft like the Dreamliner.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves across the globe, with world leaders expressing condolences. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the crash as “heartbreaking” and pledged full government support for the victims’ families. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also offered his sympathies, calling it a “devastating loss.” As mourning begins, questions remain over how such a catastrophic failure could occur on a modern aircraft. The aviation industry now faces renewed scrutiny as investigators work to uncover the truth behind this horrific disaster.
