An Air India passenger aircraft carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed within the western Indian metropolis of Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon, not lengthy after departing for London’s Gatwick airport, the airline and officers mentioned.
“Air India confirms that flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was concerned in an accident immediately after take-off,” Air India mentioned in an announcement posted on social media.
It mentioned the flight, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane, departed at 1:38 p.m. native time and was carrying 242 folks in complete.
“Of those, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian nationwide and seven Portuguese nationals. The injured are being taken to the closest hospitals,” Air India mentioned.
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A spokesperson for Boeing advised CBS Information that the corporate was “conscious of preliminary experiences” and “working to collect extra info.”
Native media reported that the aircraft had crashed right into a constructing housing medical college students. There have been experiences of greater than 100 fatalities, however no instant affirmation from authorities.
Unverified video shared on-line by Indian community NDTV purportedly confirmed the passenger jet flying low over buildings earlier than disappearing behind them. There may be then a big explosion. Within the unverified video, no fireplace or explosion might be seen on the plane earlier than it disappears.
The director basic of India’s Directorate Common of Civil Aviation, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, advised The Related Press that flight AI171 crashed 5 minutes after taking off. Dwell flight monitoring web site Flight Radar mentioned a last sign was obtained from Flight AI171 simply seconds after it took off. The flight path on Flight Radar confirmed the plane touring southwest from the airport a brief distance earlier than the trail stopped, and the positioning mentioned preliminary knowledge confirmed the plane reached a most barometric altitude of 625 toes earlier than it began to descend.
India’s Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu mentioned in an announcement posted on social media that he was “shocked and devastated to be taught in regards to the flight crash in Ahmedabad.”
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Kinjarapu mentioned officers have been “on highest alert” and that he was “personally monitoring this example” and had “directed all aviation and emergency response companies to take swift and coordinated motion.”
“Rescue groups have been mobilized, and all efforts are being made to make sure medical help and aid assist are being rushed to the positioning,” Kinjarapu mentioned.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned “the tragedy in Ahmedabad has surprised and saddened us. It’s heartbreaking past phrases. On this unhappy hour, my ideas are with everybody affected by it. Have been in contact with Ministers and authorities who’re working to help these affected.”
Gatwick Airport confirmed in an announcement that flight AI171 had “crashed on departure from Ahmedabad Airport immediately.” The airport mentioned the aircraft had been resulting from land at Gatwick, which is simply south of London, at 6:25 p.m. native time (1:25 p.m. Jap).
