Ahmedabad woke up to a devastating tragedy today, as Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed into the residential area of Meghani Nagar moments after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The catastrophic incident, occurring around 1:38 PM IST, sent shockwaves across the nation, with initial reports indicating severe casualties and a large-scale emergency response.
The ill-fated flight was carrying 242 individuals, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Eyewitnesses in Meghani Nagar described a terrifying scene, reporting loud explosions followed by plumes of thick black smoke rising from the crash site. The aircraft reportedly struck the airport perimeter wall before plunging into the residential area, causing damage to buildings and intensifying the inferno, fueled by the substantial amount of aviation fuel onboard for the long-haul journey.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air India immediately launched investigations into the crash. According to ATC communications, the aircraft gave a “MAYDAY” call shortly after departing from Runway 23 but subsequently became unresponsive. A team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been dispatched from Delhi to Ahmedabad to conduct a thorough inquiry, focusing on recovering the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, often referred to as “black boxes,” which are crucial for reconstructing the final moments of the flight and understanding the sequence of events.
The command of the aircraft was under Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with over 8,200 hours of experience, and First Officer Clive Kunder, who had logged around 1,100 hours of flying experience. While the exact cause of the crash is yet to be determined, early speculation includes the possibility of technical failure. This incident has also drawn attention to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s past, with reports of previous technical issues and allegations of manufacturing shortcuts on the model, though it is crucial to note that this is the first ever crash of a Boeing 787 aircraft.
The crash site became a hub of frantic rescue operations. Multiple fire engines, ambulances, and police units rushed to the scene. All roads leading to the affected area were sealed off to facilitate emergency services. The intense fire, exacerbated by the fuel load, posed significant challenges to rescue efforts. While official casualty figures were not immediately confirmed, the sheer scale of the impact and the residential nature of the crash zone suggested a high likelihood of fatalities and injuries, both onboard and on the ground.
The tragic event prompted a high-level response from the Indian government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly spoke with the Minister of Civil Aviation, Rammohan Naidu, and the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel, taking stock of the situation and directing all necessary support for rescue and relief operations. The Ahmedabad airport was temporarily shut down, with all flight operations suspended until further notice.
