A London-bound Air India flight crashed shortly after takeoff in the Indian city of Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing over 200 people and leaving only one confirmed survivor out of 242 people on board.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI171, plummeted into a densely populated neighborhood around lunchtime, setting buildings ablaze and scattering debris across a wide area.
The aircraft, which had been en route to Gatwick Airport in London, issued a mayday call moments after departure before smashing into structures that housed doctors and their families. According to Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik, 204 bodies had been recovered as of Thursday evening, while dozens were being treated for injuries sustained in the crash and resulting fires.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the crash “heartbreaking beyond words” and said the nation had been “stunned and saddened” by the tragedy. One of the first witnesses on the scene, a doctor named Krishna, described the horrifying sight of “about 15 to 20 burnt bodies” and noted that the plane’s nose and front wheel had landed on a canteen where students were having lunch.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed the aircraft was carrying two pilots, ten crew members, and 230 passengers — including 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. The lone survivor has been hospitalized and is reportedly in critical condition, according to a state health official.
The crash triggered an immediate shutdown of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, with all flights suspended until further notice. Thick black smoke was seen rising from the crash site as emergency services worked to contain fires and recover victims. Rescue workers were seen pulling bodies from the rubble and placing them on carts and stretchers.
The tragedy marks the first recorded crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. US aircraft manufacturer Boeing stated it was in contact with Air India and was prepared to support the investigation. Both UK and US air accident agencies have dispatched teams to assist Indian authorities.
In response to the disaster, Tata Group — owners of Air India — announced financial compensation of 10 million rupees (approximately $117,000) for the families of the deceased and pledged to cover the medical expenses of the injured.
Experts have cautioned against premature speculation, but Jason Knight, a senior lecturer in fluid mechanics at the University of Portsmouth, suggested that a rare dual engine failure, possibly due to a bird strike, could have caused the crash. He emphasized the aircraft is built to continue flying on one engine, making the scenario of a double failure particularly troubling.
India’s civil aviation sector, one of the fastest growing in the world, has seen major expansion in recent years. However, the country has also witnessed several deadly aviation accidents, including a 2010 Air India Express crash that killed 158 people. Thursday’s incident now joins the list of India’s deadliest air tragedies.
What you should know
Air India Flight AI171’s crash is the first involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, highlighting rare but catastrophic aviation risks. Among the 242 passengers and crew, only one survived.
As global and national investigations begin, attention is also on India’s booming but increasingly scrutinized aviation sector. The tragedy has triggered national mourning and global responses, with multiple countries confirming the deaths of their citizens on board.
