An Air India flight bound for London’s Gatwick Airport has crashed into a residential area shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people, crashed less than a minute into the flight. Local officials say more people are feared dead in the impact zone.
Only one person - identified as a British national - has survived. It’s India’s worst aviation disaster since 1996.
What happened?
Air India Flight 171 crashed at 1:38pm local time, just 30 seconds after departing Ahmedabad's airport.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew to London’s Gatwick Airport.
The plane crashed into a nearby residential area in Meghani Nagar. It struck the BJ Medical College during lunch hour, causing additional casualties on the ground.
Death toll
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The passenger manifest included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian.
40-year-old British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh is the only survivor.
Ramesh told The Hindustan Times he was seated in the emergency exit row and escaped via the exit door.
Ramesh was travelling with his brother, who is among the victims.
Responses
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the crash "heartbreaking beyond words" saying, "in this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected".
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said British officials were "in constant contact with the Indian authorities" and had dispatched their own team.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said: "Our deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171."
