AHMEDABAD, India (BN24) — An Air India flight bound for London’s Gatwick Airport crashed Thursday afternoon in a densely populated neighborhood of Ahmedabad, in India’s northwestern state of Gujarat, killing an unknown number of people and marking the first recorded crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, officials confirmed.
The aircraft, operating as Flight AI171, took off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 p.m. local time before it plummeted into the Meghani Nagar residential area just five minutes into the flight. The widebody Boeing 787-8 was carrying 232 passengers and 12 crew members.
Television footage from the scene showed towering smoke columns rising above the crash site, as rescue teams swarmed the area. Emergency responders and aviation personnel were dispatched immediately, according to Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, director general of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
“This is a deeply tragic incident. Rescue teams have been mobilized and are providing urgent medical assistance and relief,” Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said on X, formerly Twitter. “I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all agencies to respond swiftly and in coordination.”
Air India, India’s flagship carrier, acknowledged the crash in a statement posted on X, noting that the airline is “ascertaining details” and will issue further updates. The airline referred to the crash as “an incident” as initial reports emerged from the crash site.
London Gatwick Airport confirmed it had been scheduled to receive AI171 at 6:25 p.m. local time and said it was coordinating with Indian authorities. The flight path and aircraft data show the Boeing 787 transmitted its final signal just seconds after takeoff, according to flight tracking service Flightradar24.
Police have cordoned off the impact zone in Meghani Nagar, where local media report multiple residential structures were damaged or destroyed by the crash and fire. There was no immediate word on survivors.
The crash marks a grim milestone for Boeing, as it is the first-ever fatal accident involving a 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft entered service in 2011, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.
As the investigation begins, both Indian and international aviation authorities are expected to examine flight data, crew communications, and mechanical records to determine the cause of the crash. Officials have not yet confirmed how many people may have died or survived.
