Monday | Jun 23 2025 | 11:57:41 AM
New Delhi, June 12
Over 130 people are feared dead in the most tragic air crash in recent years, as Air India flight from Ahmedabad to Gatwick carrying 242 passengers crashed near Meghaninagar in Ahmedabad.
The flight was took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport at 13:38pm and within nine minutes of taking off, it crashed in an under construction building in Meghaninagar.
Among the 242 passengers, 12 members were from the cabin crew. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was also on board.
The local media reported that he was rushed to Ahmedabad civil hospital for treatment. All injured were rushed to civil hospital.
The state police and National Disaster Response Force teams from Gandhinagar were rushed to the spot and rescue work was initiated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken stock of the situation. Within an hour of the incident, Home Minister Amit Shah left for Ahmedabad. Civil Aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu is rushing to Ahmedabad to assess the situation.
Air India later confirmed that the flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft.
“Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals. The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals,” reads the official statement issued by the airline.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in a statement said, "Capt Sumeet Sabharwal is an LTC with 8200 hours of experience. The copilot had 1100 hours of flying experience. As per ATC, the aircraft departed from Ahmadabad at 1339 IST (0809 UTC) from runway 23. 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."
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) states that all personnel of Ahmedabad unit of CISF numbering about 400 plus, which includes all off duty personnel, Quick Response Teams, Office duty personnel, immediately rushed to the spot which was just outside perimeter wall to contribute in the search and rescue operations along with preservation of vital of components of the aircraft for post incident investigation.
Troops of 100 Rapid Action Force and 150 personnel from GC Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) we're also pressed into rescue operations.
DGCA has ordered an investigation into the incident.
