Air India Plane Crashes During Takeoff in Ahmedabad, 242 on Board

The flight, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, issued a Mayday distress call shortly after departing runway 23 at 1:39 p.m. local time, but soon lost all communication.

Aviation tracking service Flightradar24 reported receiving the plane’s last signal mere seconds after liftoff.

Television footage captured the harrowing moment the aircraft lifted off, soared briefly over civilian homes, then vanished behind rooftops just before a fiery explosion erupted.

Smoke plumes and flaming debris scattered across the crash site, igniting widespread panic.

Gujarat police and Air India officials confirmed the plane had crashed in a populated area close to the airport perimeter.

Rescue teams raced to the scene, ferrying the injured on stretchers to awaiting ambulances.

While the exact toll remains unclear, visuals showed multiple victims receiving urgent medical attention.

Air India released a statement on X, saying, “At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates.” The airline declined to confirm any fatalities amid ongoing rescue efforts.

This marks India’s deadliest aviation accident since 2020, when an Air India Express Boeing 737 skidded off a “table-top” runway in Kozhikode, killing 21. Boeing has yet to issue a statement on the incident.

Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the crash’s cause as the nation grapples with the tragedy that unfolded in broad daylight.

Source: Daily Sabah