Air India Flight Crashes After Takeoff in Ahmedabad; ‘Mayday’ Call Sent Moments Before Tragedy

An Air India flight heading to London crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon. The flight, AI171, was operated using a Boeing 787 aircraft. It had 242 people on board, including 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew members, and 2 pilots.

Just minutes after taking off at 1:39 PM from runway 23, the pilots issued a “Mayday” call, an internationally recognized emergency signal used when an aircraft is in serious trouble. Soon after the distress call, the aircraft lost communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC) and crashed into a residential area close to the airport.

Emergency services responded quickly to the disaster. More than two dozen ambulances were sent to the site, and police teams rushed in to help. Eyewitnesses reported seeing thick black smoke rising into the sky after the crash. One video captured the shocking moment of the aircraft crashing, while another showed part of the broken plane resting on top of a building.

Air India shared details about the nationalities of those on board. Among the passengers were 169 Indian citizens, 53 British nationals, 1 Canadian, and 7 Portuguese nationals. The airline also set up a passenger support helpline at 1800 5691 444 for families seeking information.

The DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) identified the pilots as Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had 8,200 hours of flight experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had flown for 1,100 hours.

India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, stated that he is personally monitoring the situation. He has instructed all aviation and emergency agencies to act swiftly and in coordination. Air India has confirmed its full cooperation with authorities investigating the cause of the crash.

The airport has been temporarily shut down until further notice as rescue and investigation efforts continue.