Tragedy Strikes: Air India Plane with 242 Passengers Crashes Near Ahmedabad Airport

AHMEDABAD, India, June 12 (Reuters) – An Air India flight bound for London with 242 people on board tragically crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad, a city in western India, on Thursday. Both Air India and local police confirmed the devastating incident, with India’s federal health minister stating that “many people” have been confirmed dead.

The ill-fated plane, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was en route to Gatwick Airport in the UK when it crashed in a civilian area close to the airport. Local police reported that the plane struck a building housing medical staff. A senior officer shared that approximately 70% to 80% of the area has been cleared, with efforts to finish the search continuing.

The 242 people on board included 217 adults, 11 children, and a mix of nationalities: 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. The crash occurred mere minutes after takeoff at 1:39 p.m. local time (08:09 GMT), and aviation tracking site Flightradar24 reported that the plane gave a “Mayday” call before losing communication.

Eyewitness accounts showed the plane lifting off and briefly disappearing from view before an enormous fireball erupted in the sky, followed by thick black smoke. Images from the scene revealed debris burning on the ground, with emergency responders tending to injured passengers.

Emergency services rushed to the site, transporting the wounded to nearby hospitals, and the search for survivors continues. Air India has assured that it is working to gather more details as the investigation unfolds. Boeing has acknowledged the reports and stated that it is cooperating to further understand the circumstances surrounding the crash.

As investigations begin, the airline industry and the world await further updates on the tragic incident.