AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — A tragic aviation disaster struck Thursday when an Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing all 244 people onboard, according to officials. The Indian plane crash today occurred just minutes after departure, with the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plummeting into a densely populated area near the airport.
Thick black smoke and flames engulfed the crash site in Meghani Nagar, where the plane struck the rooftop dining hall of a medical college hostel. Firefighters worked to control the blaze and recover bodies, while police confirmed there were no known survivors. Among the dead were 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, Air India reported. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the London plane crash “devastating,” and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as “heartbreaking beyond words.”
Witnesses saw parts of the aircraft embedded in nearby buildings, including the tail cone lodged atop one structure. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said emergency efforts were underway, with military teams assisting in rescue and recovery.
This marks the first-ever crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a model introduced in 2009. Boeing said it is actively gathering details. Aviation experts noted the aircraft appeared to have trouble gaining altitude.
Air India has set up an emergency response center for families. Global condolences poured in, including from King Charles III, who expressed his “deepest sympathy” for those impacted by this international tragedy.
