- An Air India Boeing 787 crashed soon after takeoff from the city of Ahmedabad on Thursday.
- London Gatwick Airport, where the plane was headed, confirmed the crash.
- Over 240 people were on board the plane, according to India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
An Air India flight crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad on Thursday morning.
London Gatwick Airport, where Flight 171 was due to land at 6:25 p.m. local time, confirmed that the plane crashed on departure.
According to a statement shared by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, more than 240 people were on board, including 10 crew and two pilots.
In a statement shared on X, Air India said the flight “was involved in an incident” and that it was “ascertaining the details.”
Data from Flightradar24 shows the Boeing 787 reaching an altitude of 625 feet before tracking information stopped.
Images shared on social media appeared to show thick black smoke rising into the sky near the runway.
According to a report from Reuters, local police said the plane had crashed in a residential area near the airport.
Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, India’s minister for civil aviation, said on X that he was “shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad.”
“We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action.”
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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