An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing multiple people and triggering a massive emergency response. The aircraft carrying 242 passengers and crew – including 169 Indian nationals, 43 Britons, and citizens from 10 other countries – went down near a medical hostel in the western Indian city.
"We've cleared 70-80% of the crash site and are working round the clock," a senior police official told reporters, describing the challenges of navigating the dense urban area. Thick plumes of smoke visible in local news footage underscored the severity of the impact.
India's Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu confirmed the activation of national emergency protocols, stating: "Rescue teams have been mobilized with all medical resources directed to the site. Our immediate priority is saving lives."
The disaster marks one of India's worst aviation incidents in recent years, involving one of the world's most advanced passenger aircraft. Aviation tracking data shows the plane lost contact minutes after departure from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
As night fell on Thursday, over two dozen ambulances remained deployed at the crash site. Authorities have diverted traffic and established a security perimeter while investigations into the cause begin.
