A major tragedy struck on Thursday afternoon as Air India Flight AI-171, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The Boeing 787 aircraft was carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu confirmed that he is personally monitoring the situation. Taking to social media platform X, he expressed his shock and grief: “Shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad. We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action.”
Emergency response teams, including fire services and disaster management agencies, were rushed to the crash site near Shahibaug. Three teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from Gandhinagar, comprising 90 personnel, were immediately deployed, while three additional teams from Vadodara are en route to support rescue and relief operations.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft, identified as VT-ANB, crashed immediately after departure.
The plane was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a senior commander with 8,200 hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 hours of flight experience.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state Home Minister, and Ahmedabad’s Police Commissioner. Shah assured full support from the central government for ongoing rescue and relief efforts.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, in a post on X, said he was deeply saddened by the crash and has ordered immediate relief efforts and the creation of a green corridor to ensure swift medical attention for the injured.
“I have instructed the officials to carry out immediate rescue and relief work and ensure all arrangements for hospital treatment are prioritized.”
Further updates are awaited as search and rescue efforts continue at the site.
