Air India Flight AI-171 Crashes in Ahmedabad, 241 Dead; One Survivor Identified
Ahmedabad : In one of the deadliest aviation tragedies in recent Indian history, Air India flight AI-171, en route to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. Only one passenger has survived, the airline confirmed in an official statement.
“We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital,” Air India said, adding that the survivor is a British national of Indian origin.
The aircraft, which took off at 1:38 p.m. IST, went down within minutes of departure, crashing into a residential complex near BJ Medical College. The impact caused a massive blaze and extensive damage to nearby buildings, triggering an immediate large-scale emergency response involving fire, police, and medical services.
Air India provided a breakdown of the nationalities of those on board:
169 were Indian nationals
53 were British nationals
7 were Portuguese nationals
1 was a Canadian national
The airline has set up Friends & Relatives Assistance Centres (FRACs) at key locations including Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, and London Gatwick to support the families of victims.
In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), Air India said, “These centres are facilitating the travel of family members to Ahmedabad and providing counselling, logistical aid, and accommodation support.”
Emergency contact numbers have been issued for those seeking information:
From India: 1800 5691 444
From abroad: +91 8062779200
Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the crash. Aviation authorities, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and a team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), are currently on site.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound grief over the tragedy and assured full support to affected families. “Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in the Air India crash. Prayers for the lone survivor’s recovery. All possible assistance is being extended,” he posted on X.
The tragedy has cast a pall of gloom over the nation, with condolence messages pouring in from across the globe.
