A City Jolted by Disaster
At precisely 1:38 PM IST, the aircraft departed from the runway carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Within seconds, air traffic controllers received a chilling "Mayday" distress call before losing radar contact. The plane reportedly reached only 625 feet in altitude before nose-diving into the Meghani Nagar area, a densely populated zone just north of the airport.
Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene. "There was a loud boom, and the ground shook like an earthquake," said Ramesh Patel, a local shopkeeper. Flames erupted from the crash site, followed by a thick column of black smoke visible for kilometers.
Victims and Chaos on the Ground
Initial reports confirm multiple fatalities, though exact figures remain unverified. Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian traveler. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Vijay Rupani, the former Chief Minister of Gujarat, may have been aboard the flight.
Emergency services, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire brigades, and ambulances, reached the site within minutes. Rescue operations were ongoing late into the afternoon, with bodies and aircraft debris strewn across the area. A nearby doctors’ hostel was also damaged in the impact.
Hospitals in Ahmedabad are on high alert, treating survivors and preparing for further casualties.
National Response and Investigation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and has instructed the Ministry of Civil Aviation to oversee the response. Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, India’s Civil Aviation Minister, confirmed that a detailed probe has been launched. Investigators from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are now combing through flight data and wreckage for clues.
Flight tracking data from platforms like Flightradar24 showed the aircraft lost signal just seconds after takeoff, corroborating the sudden nature of the crash.
Airport Operations Suspended
Ahmedabad airport temporarily suspended all inbound and outbound flights. Airport officials have stated that normal operations will resume only after the crash site has been fully cleared and deemed safe.
The crash marks a grim milestone: it is the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the most severe accident for Air India in decades.
Looking Ahead
Families of those on board have been directed to Air India’s emergency helplines for updates and assistance. International embassies have been alerted and are coordinating with Indian authorities to support their citizens.
As the nation mourns, the focus turns to understanding what went wrong — whether it was mechanical failure, human error, or external factors — and ensuring such a tragedy does not repeat.
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