Air India crash: All passengers feared dead after London-bound plane crashes after take off from Ahmedabad

An Air India passenger plane bound for London with 242 people on board has crashed after taking off from India’s western city of Ahmedabad, with local police fearing there are no survivors.

Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was bound for London Gatwick when it crashed shortly after takeoff, officials said.

There were 242 passengers and crew members onboard the flight.

Police commissioner G.S. Malik told the Associated Press “it appears there are no survivors in the plane crash”.

India’s health minister Jagat Parkash Nadda said “many people” had been killed, however the number of fatalities is unknown.

“Air India confirms that flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an accident today after take-off,” Air India said in a statement posted on X.

“The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on 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.

“Air India is giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident.”

Local media reports the plane crashed into the dining area of a doctor’s hostel, attached to a medical college, with authorities fearing people on the ground either died or were seriously injured.

Commissioner Malik told media just over 200 bodies had been recovered by rescue workers at the crash site, while more were buried under rubble.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a statement on X, said: “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us.”

“It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected.”

UK leader Keir Starmer said he was seeking constant updates on the situation after dozens of British citizens were revealed as passengers.

“The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating,” he said on X.

“I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time.”

Australian PM Anthony Albanese said news of the plane crash was “absolutely devastating.”

“In this time of tragedy, Australia’s thoughts are with everyone affected,” he said in a statement on X.

“Our government is receiving regular updates and we will continue to monitor the situation closely.”

A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman said the Australian High Commission in New Delhi and the Consulate-General in Mumbai were “urgently” following up with local authorities to determine if any Australians were on board the plane.

Air India chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran said: “With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad (to) London Gatwick 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 said.

India’s aviation minister said he was “shocked and devastated” by the crash.

Aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu directed “all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action.”

“Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site,” he added.

“My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families.”

Ahmedabad, the main city of India’s Gujarat state, is home of about eight million people, and the busy airport is located surrounded by densely packed residential areas.

One television channel showed the plane taking off over a residential area and then disappearing from the screen before a huge cloud of fire rising into the sky from beyond the houses.

Vision also showed debris on fire, with thick black smoke rising up into the sky near the airport.

They also showed vision of people being moved in stretchers and being taken away in ambulances.

According to air traffic control at Ahmedabad airport, the aircraft departed at 1.39pm from runway 23. It gave a “Mayday” call, signalling an emergency, but thereafter no there was no response from the aircraft.

Flightradar24 also said that it received the last signal from the aircraft after it took off.

India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu posted on X that rescue teams had been mobilized, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support at the site.

“We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation,” he said.

Boeing said they were “in contact” with Air India and stood “ready to support them”.

“Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected,” they said via a statement on social media.

The 787 Dreamliner is a widebody, twin-engine plane. This is the first crash ever of a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.

The aircraft was introduced in 2009 and more than 1,000 have been delivered to dozens of airlines, according to the flightradar24 website.

Jetstar operates Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft for its international long-haul flights form Australia while Qantas predominantly uses the upgraded 787-9 model.

India has suffered a series of fatal air crashes, including a 1996 disaster when two jets collided mid-air over New Delhi, killing nearly 350 people.

In 2010 an Air India Express jet crashed and burst into flames at Mangalore airport in southwest India, killing 158 of the 166 passengers and crew on board.

Decades earlier, an Air India Boeing 747 flying from Montreal to London in June 1985 crashed into the sea off Ireland with 329 people on board and leaving no survivors.

An Indian commission determined that militant Sikhs had planted a bomb in baggage being carried by the plane.