Share this @internewscast.com

AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — A passenger airplane from Air India heading to London with 244 individuals on board crashed Thursday in the northwestern Indian city of Ahmedabad, according to the airline and local media.

Footage aired on local TV channels displayed plumes of smoke rising from the crash scene near Ahmedabad’s airport, a city with over 5 million residents.

Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the directorate of civil aviation, informed The Associated Press that Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8, crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar five minutes post takeoff at 1:38 p.m. local time.

There were 232 passengers and 12 crew members onboard the flight, which had been bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, Kidwai said.

Gatwick posted on X that it could confirm the flight, which had been due to arrive at 6:25 p.m. in London, had crashed on departure.

India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu posted on X that rescue teams have 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.

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.

Air India’s chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, said at the moment “our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families.”

He said on X that the airline had set up an emergency center and support team for families seeking information about those who were on the flight.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event,” he said.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Historic Myanmar Election: A Pivotal Challenge to Military Rule Amid Rising Criticism

BANGKOK – Myanmar is set to embark on the initial stage of…

Don’t Miss Out: Top AP Reads to Conclude 2025 on a High Note

As the curtain falls on 2025, The Associated Press has compiled a…

Thailand Conducts Airstrike on Cambodian Village Amid Ongoing Border Negotiations

BANGKOK – On Friday, as diplomatic discussions aimed at halting recent hostilities…

Venezuelan Family’s Journey: From American Dream to Struggling Christmas in Poverty

MARACAY – Last year, Mariela Gómez could never have anticipated spending Christmas…

Don’t Miss ‘The Classic’ Basketball Tournament and Exciting Weekend Events in the Tri-Cities!

The Tri-Cities region, spanning Tennessee and Virginia, is set to host an…

US Launches Strikes on ISIS in Nigeria Following Attacks on Christian Communities, Says Trump

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – On Thursday night, President Donald Trump announced…

Yemen’s Separatists Claim Saudi Airstrikes Targeted Their Troops

DUBAI – On Friday, separatists in southern Yemen accused Saudi Arabia of…

Tragic Merritt Island Christmas Eve Fire Claims One Life: Community in Mourning

MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. – This year, a somber Christmas has enveloped a…

Haven of Mercy Provides a Holiday Home for Many

In the heart of Johnson City, Tennessee, a beacon of hope shines…

Japan Approves Largest Defense Budget Yet to Strengthen Security Against China

TOKYO – In a significant move, Japan’s Cabinet has sanctioned an unprecedented…

Asian Markets Show Mixed Results as Gold and Silver Reach New Record Highs

BANGKOK – On Friday, U.S. futures experienced a slight dip, and Asian…

Zelenskyy Confirms Imminent Meeting with Trump: What It Means for Global Politics

In a hopeful turn for diplomatic relations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced…