Ahmedabad plane crash: Air India flight AI -171 to London crashes after takeoff from Ahmedabad; MAYDAY call went unanswered, says DGCA

NEW DELHI: An Air India B787 aircraft, registration VT-ANB, operating flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, crashed immediately after takeoff from Ahmedabad. There were 242 people on board the aircraft, including two pilots and ten cabin crew, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The aircraft was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with First Officer Clive Kundar, according to the DGCA along with Captain Sabharwal, LTC with 8200 hours of experience. The copilot had 1100 hours of flying experience. The aircraft issued a MAYDAY call to ATC, but thereafter did not respond to calls made by ATC, as said by the DGCA in its statement. "It gave a MAYDAY Call to ATC, but thereafter, no response was given by the aircraft to the calls made by ATC.

Aircraft immediately after departure from Runway 23, fell on the ground outside the airport perimeter. Heavy black smoke was seen coming from the accident site," said the aviation authority in a statement, quoted by ANI.Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu also gave a statement saying that authorities are on alert, while he is monitoring the situation. "Shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad.

We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action," he said.Reports indicated that the aircraft, a wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliner, had a capacity of around 300 passengers and had over 240 onboard including 2 pilots and crew member. The flight carried heavy fuel for the long-haul journey, increasing the intensity of the explosion and fire following the crash.

Multiple fire engines and ambulances responded to the crash site to conduct rescue operations. There is currently no official confirmation of casualties. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to initiate a formal investigation, accompanied by a possible technical team from Boeing. Experts suggest that the heavy fuel load for the international route may have exacerbated the post-crash fire, complicating rescue efforts. Union home minister Amit Shah spoke to Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel, state home minister Harsh Sanghavi, and the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner regarding the incident.

He assured that the Central government would provide all necessary assistance to the state in managing the aftermath and investigation of the crash.