Airlines Tragedy in Gujarat: Air India Flight AI-171 crashes after takeoff from Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad: In a devastating aviation tragedy, Air India’s Boeing 787 aircraft (VT-ANB), operating flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Runway. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft, carrying 242 people including two pilots and ten cabin crew members, issued a MAYDAY call moments after liftoff. Tragically, no further communication was received before the aircraft plummeted outside the airport perimeter, erupting into flames and sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky. The flight was commanded by Capt Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned pilot with over 8,200 flying hours, assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has launched a large-scale rescue operation, deploying three teams with 90 personnel from Gandhinagar, and three additional teams from Vadodara en route to the crash site. Emergency services are working around the clock to control the blaze and search for survivors amidst the wreckage. The DGCA has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, as families of passengers anxiously await news. The area around the crash site remains cordoned off, with officials urging the public to avoid speculation until further details emerge.