NEW DELHI: According to international media reports, an Air India passenger plane crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport in India on Thursday morning. The aircraft, en route to Gatwick Airport in London, had 232 passengers and 12 crew members on board.
Officials have stated that the plane struck a doctor’s dormitory in the residential area of Megnangar, near the airport.
Police report that at least 30 bodies have been recovered from the site, and rescue operations are ongoing.
Among the passengers were 169 Indian citizens, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian.
India’s Minister of Aviation, K. Ram Mohan Naidu, expressed that he is “shocked and saddened” by the incident and has instructed all emergency services to take immediate action.
The Chief Minister of Gujarat has also emphasized the need for prompt assistance.
In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the crash as “devastating and distressing” and stated that the British government is cooperating with Indian authorities to clarify the details.
The aircraft was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and was scheduled to land in London at 6:25 PM local time. According to aviation sources, this is the first recorded crash of the 787 model in the world.
Investigations into the cause of the incident have begun, with some videos circulating on social media showing flames coming from the rear of the aircraft moments before the crash.
Further details will be shared later.
