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An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday, heading towards London’s Gatwick airport.
The crash occurred in a civilian area near the airport, and while authorities have not confirmed any fatalities, initial reports have shown significant damage.
The aircraft was operating as a commercial flight to the UK when it disappeared from radar just minutes after departing at 1:39 p.m. local time.
The aircraft was carrying a diverse group of passengers, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese citizens, and 1 Canadian.
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The plane had just taken off from runway 23 when it issued a "Mayday" emergency call. However, there was no further communication from the aircraft.
Videos taken by onlookers showed the plane attempting to pitch up before losing lift and slamming into the ground in a ball of fire
The aviation tracking site Flightradar24 reported that it received the final signal from the plane just moments after takeoff, raising further concerns about the cause of the incident.
Devastating Visuals and Emergency Response
Witnesses and television coverage showed dramatic visuals of the plane’s final moments. Footage captured the aircraft taking off over a residential area, followed by a large fireball rising from the crash site, visible through thick plumes of black smoke.
Emergency responders were immediately on the scene, with ambulances transporting injured individuals. Images from the site also showed debris on fire, further underscoring the severity of the crash.
The Air India flight was a modern aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which is renowned for its efficiency and comfort.
Despite its reputation as one of the most advanced passenger planes in service, this tragedy has highlighted the vulnerability of air travel, especially in cases of unexpected emergencies.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with air traffic control reporting that the aircraft gave a Mayday call before losing contact.
Authorities are currently in the process of investigating the crash. Air India, in an official statement on social media, confirmed that they are working to ascertain further details of the incident and promised to release additional updates as information becomes available.
The airline has not yet confirmed the number of casualties, though early reports suggest several passengers were injured.
This crash follows the tragic 2020 Air India Express crash in Kozhikode, where 21 lives were lost when a Boeing 737 overshot the runway. Both incidents have raised concerns about the safety of air travel in India, as aviation authorities now face the critical task of determining the cause of Thursday's disaster.