AHMEDABAD, INDIA – An Air India passenger jet bound for London crashed into a residential neighborhood shortly after takeoff on Thursday, with officials reporting no survivors among the 242 people on board.

Key Facts

• The Flight – Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, departed Ahmedabad for London’s Gatwick Airport at approximately 1:38 p.m. local time.
• The Crash – The aircraft crashed just minutes after takeoff into the Meghani Nagar residential area near the airport. There are reports of casualties on the ground.
• Historic Incident – This is the first fatal crash and hull loss of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft model entered commercial service in 2011.

The crash involved an 11-year-old aircraft, registered as VT-ANB, and has sent shockwaves through the aviation community, which had long regarded the Dreamliner as one of the safest aircraft in the skies.

What Happened to Flight AI171?

Air India Flight AI171 took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. According to flight tracking data and eyewitness accounts, the plane struggled to gain altitude before crashing. Officials from India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that the pilots issued a “Mayday” distress call moments before communication was lost.

The aircraft was carrying 232 passengers and 10 crew members. Air India has released a partial list of nationalities on board, which included 169 Indian, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian citizen. Emergency crews were dispatched immediately to the densely populated area, where images showed thick smoke and wreckage.

A First for the Dreamliner

The incident represents a grim milestone for The Boeing Company. The 787 Dreamliner, a technologically advanced wide-body jet, has been in operation for over a decade with more than 1,000 aircraft delivered to airlines worldwide. Until today, it had maintained a pristine safety record with no fatal accidents.

Aviation experts note the aircraft’s extensive flight data monitoring capabilities. The recovery of the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder will be critical for investigators to determine the cause of the crash. Boeing released a statement acknowledging the crash and pledging to support the investigation. The news had an immediate impact on Boeing’s stock, which saw a significant drop in pre-market trading.

The Investigation and Response

Indian authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into the crash. Officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation are on site to collect evidence and begin the process of determining the cause.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the crash “heartbreaking beyond words” in a social media post. International leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, also expressed their condolences, noting the large number of British nationals on the flight. Air India has established an emergency response center to support the families of those affected by the tragedy. The airline’s website and social media pages have adopted a somber black-and-white theme, a standard protocol in the aftermath of major aviation incidents.