Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, issued a distress call shortly after its 1:39 p.m. departure local time. Seconds later, the aircraft lost contact with air traffic control and plummeted into a densely populated residential area near the airport, triggering a massive fireball and sending thick black smoke into the sky.
India's federal health minister confirmed that "many people" had been killed, though an official death toll has yet to be announced. Eyewitnesses and footage from local media showed the charred wreckage ablaze, emergency responders pulling victims from the debris, and ambulances rushing the injured to nearby hospitals.
The airline confirmed the plane was en route to London's Gatwick Airport and had 217 adults and 11 children on board, along with crew. According to Air India, the nationalities of those aboard included 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian.
'Rescue teams are working tirelessly at the site. Our thoughts are with the families of those affected,' Air India said in a statement posted on X.
The crash occurred in Ahmedabad, the main city in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat. Modi has directed aviation authorities to 'extend all possible support' to the rescue and recovery efforts. The city's airport, operated by the Adani Group, suspended all flight operations indefinitely.
Gautam Adani, chairman of the Adani Group, expressed his condolences on social media: 'We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragedy of Air India Flight 171. Our hearts go out to the families who have suffered an unimaginable loss.'
Aviation tracking service Flightradar24 reported that the last signal from the aircraft was received moments after departure.
The jet, registered as VT-ANB, is part of Boeing's Dreamliner fleet and one of the most advanced commercial aircraft in use.
Boeing has acknowledged the crash and said it is working to gather more information. Shares in the U.S. aircraft manufacturer fell 6.8% in pre-market trading.
Britain's Foreign Office said it was urgently working with Indian authorities to confirm facts and provide support to British nationals affected by the crash.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
