AHMEDABAD : Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising from the Adani-operated Ahmedabad airport premises, with visibility extending as far as the Dharpur locality near the Meghaninagar area. Media reports suggest that the aircraft was in the process of taking off when the crash occurred.

Air India confirmed that the flight was Air India Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick and crashed from an altitude of 825 feet which is substantial.

The aircraft while operating flight crashed immediately after takeoff at 1:39 pm from Ahmedabad. There were 242 people on board the aircraft, consisting of 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew. The aircraft was under the command of Capt Sumeet Sabharwal with First Officer Clive Kundar: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

The plane issued a mayday call to ATCA, and shortly after, the flight crashed. Visuals from the scene indicate that the flight is still in takeoff mode, with the landing gear still intact, suggesting that it crashed shortly after takeoff.

While officials are yet to release an official death toll, sources suggest that more than 100 people may have lost their lives in the tragedy.

Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran expressed his condolences, stating, “With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 was involved in a tragic accident today. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event.”

He added that the airline’s primary focus remains on supporting the families and assisting emergency response teams. An emergency centre has been activated, and support teams have been deployed to aid relatives seeking information.

More details to follow as the situation unfolds.

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