Heartbreak strikes as Air India’s London-bound flight crashes minutes after takeoff, shrouding Ahmedabad in smoke and sorrow.
Ahmedabad: Ahmedabad woke to a nightmare today. An Air India Boeing 787, flight AI-171, with 242 souls onboard, crashed near Meghani Nagar minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Thick black smoke choked the air. The plane, bound for London Gatwick, plummeted at 625 feet, sending shockwaves through the city. Rescue teams scrambled. With 169 Indian, 53 British, 1 Canadian, and 7 Portuguese nationals aboard, hope hangs by a thread. What went wrong?
Desperate Rescue Amid Smoke
The crash site turned into a battlefield. Dense smoke clouded efforts. Fire brigade vehicles battled flames. NDRF teams rushed from Gandhinagar and Vadodara. “It’s like a dark veil over our hearts,” said a rescuer, wiping sweat. The 11-year-old Dreamliner, VT-ANB, left debris scattered. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with 8,200 hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, with 1,100 hours, were at the helm. A 2024 aviation study warns aging fleets heighten risks. Tears flowed as ambulances sped to hospitals.
Mayday Call and Chaos
The tragedy unfolded at 1339 IST. The plane sent a Mayday call but fell silent. Air Traffic Control watched helplessly. The aircraft dropped at 475 feet per minute. Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu raced from Vijayawada, cutting short events. PM Narendra Modi demanded updates. “Every second counts,” Naidu urged. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s director headed to Ahmedabad. Fear gripped families. A local cried, “My brother was onboard!” The city held its breath.
Airline’s Response and Grief
Air India set up a hotline, 1800 5691 444, for anguished relatives. Chairman N Chandrasekaran said, “Our hearts bleed for the affected. We’re with the families.” The airport shut down, halting all flights. A spokesperson confirmed the crash outside the perimeter. Speculation swirled. Was it mechanical failure or human error? No answers yet. The nation prayed. A survivor’s relative whispered, “Give us hope.” The airline promised full cooperation with probes.
Aftermath and Questions
The crash left Ahmedabad scarred. Smoke lingered like a bad dream. Officials hinted at a global first for the Boeing 787. “We must learn from this,” said an expert. Rescue operations stretched into the night. Hospitals braced for the injured. A 2025 report noted 15% of air incidents link to takeoff issues. Will this tragedy spark safety reforms? The city mourned. “Why our Ahmedabad?” a resident sobbed. Answers remain buried in the wreckage.
