An Air India flight carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed shortly after takeoff. Here’s what we know
An Air India flight en route to London carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed shortly after taking off from the western city of Ahmedabad in India’s Guajarat state earlier today.
Here’s what we know so far about the crash:
Timeline: According to aviation tracker Flightradar24, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, departed from Ahmedabad International airport at 1:38 p.m. local time (4:08 a.m. ET) with a destination of London Gatwick Airport. The aircraft’s signal was lost less than a minute later, at an altitude of 625 feet.
Casualties: At least 290 people are dead, a senior doctor at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital told CNN. Among those killed were passengers on the flight, including some minors, local residents, and people who were inside the BJ Medical College and Hospital hostel when the plane crashed into it. So far, there is only one reported survivor among those who were on board the flight, according to local police. Earlier, Air India’s CEO Campbell Wilson said in a social media video message that injured passengers were taken to a local hospitals and a “special team of caregivers from Air India is on their way to Ahmedabad to provide additional support.”
In the surrounding area: Officials said the bulk of the plane had crashed into a hostel housing doctors working in a local hospital. The Federation of All India Medical Association said between 50 and 60 students have been admitted to local hospitals after the flight crashed into the hostel at the BJ Medical College and Hospital. Some residents and their relatives are said to be missing, while one resident’s wife has been found dead, according to a statement from the group.
Who was onboard? Wilson said that 230 passengers boarded the flight that was manned by 12 crew members. He confirmed 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian national were on board.
Investigation: India’s civil aviation authorities would be expected to take the lead, according to CNN’s Richard Quest, but “parties to the investigation” would also likely include the US, where the aircraft is manufactured, and the UK, the destination country. The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it will be leading a team that is heading to India to assist local authorities’ probe into the crash. The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has also formally offered its assistance to India’s authorities following the crash.
Boeing’s response: Boeing said it is in contact with the airline. “Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected,” it added in an X post. This is the latest in a string of incidents for the plane manufacturer over the past few years.
Support for victims: Tata Group, the owner of Air India and one of India’s largest conglomerates, has said it will provide ₹1 crore ($116,868) to the families of each person who has lost their life, the company announced in a post on X.
This post has been updated with the latest reporting on the crash and casualties.
