Plane with more than 240 people aboard crashes 5 minutes after takeoff in India
Visuals on local television channels showed smoke billowing from the crash site in what appeared to be a populated area near the airport in Ahmedabad, a city with a population of more than 5 million.
The airline said the Gatwick Airport-bound flight was carrying 242 passengers and crew. Of those, Air India said there were 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.
Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the Directorate of Civil Aviation, told The Associated Press that Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8, crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar five minutes after taking off at 1:38 p.m. local time. He said 244 people were on board, and it was not immediately possible to reconcile the discrepancy with Air India's numbers.
Gatwick posted on X that it could confirm the flight, which had been due to arrive at 6:25 p.m. in London, had crashed on departure.
India's Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu posted on X that rescue teams have been mobilized, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support at the site.
'We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation,' he said.
The 787 Dreamliner is a widebody, twin-engine plane. This is the first crash ever of a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.
The aircraft was introduced in 2009 and more than 1,000 have been delivered to dozens of airlines, according to the Flightradar24 website.
Air India's chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, said at the moment, 'our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families.'
He said on X that the airline had set up an emergency center and support team for families seeking information about those who were on the flight.
'Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event,' he said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
2 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Titan submersible disaster that killed 5 on way to Titanic ruins was preventable, Coast Guard says
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Coast Guard's report on the Titan submersible disaster that killed five on the way to the Titanic said Tuesday the implosion was 'preventable' The Coast Guard convened its highest level of investigation in the aftermath of the 2023 implosion off Canada. The disappearance of the Titan led to a search that grabbed worldwide attention. There were no survivors. The Titan was owned by OceanGate, a private company based in Washington state. The operator of the submersible, OceanGate head Stockton Rush, was among the five on board who died. The report found the company's safety procedures were 'critically flawed,' noting that the core of the failures inside the company came down to 'glaring disparities' between their safety protocols and actual practices. The submersible disaster has led to lawsuits and calls for tighter regulation of the developing private deep sea expedition industry. Jason Neubauer, with the Marine Board of Investigation, said that the findings will help prevent future tragedies. 'There is a need for stronger oversight and clear options for operators who are exploring new concepts outside of the existing regulatory framework,' he said in a statement. Investigators found that the submersible's design, certification, maintenance and inspection process were all inadequate. A Coast Guard statement said OceanGate also had a 'toxic workplace culture,' and its mission was hindered by lack of domestic and international framework for submersible operations. Numerous OceanGate employees have come forward in the two years since the implosion to support that claim. The report alleges that for several years preceding the Titan's explosion, OceanGate 'leveraged intimidation tactics, allowances for scientific operations, and the company's favorable reputation to evade regulatory scrutiny.' 'By strategically creating and exploiting regulatory confusion and oversight challenges, OceanGate was ultimately able to operate TITAN completely outside of the established deep-sea protocols,' the report found.
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated Press
Seven volcanoes wake up in Russia's Kamchatka after powerful quake
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day.
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated Press
Airdrops of aid continue over Gaza
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day.
