In a catastrophic event that has sent shockwaves across the globe, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 244 people crashed just minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday. Authorities have confirmed there are no known survivors.
The aircraft, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, plunged into the densely populated Meghani Nagar neighborhood, igniting buildings in its path and sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky. Rescue crews battled flames and searched the debris-strewn crash site, where charred bodies lay among the ruins. The full scale of the devastation is still being assessed.
“This tragedy is heartbreaking beyond words,” said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose home state is Gujarat. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed the sorrow, calling the crash “devastating,” as at least 53 British citizens were reportedly on board.
The aircraft had taken off at 1:38 p.m. local time and went down within five minutes. Witnesses say it struck a medical college hostel’s dining area. Authorities fear the death toll may include residents and students on the ground.
This marks the first-ever fatal crash involving a Boeing 787, a model introduced in 2009. Boeing said it is urgently gathering details. Air India, meanwhile, has launched an emergency support center for the victims’ families.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed all emergency services, including the Indian Army, are on-site. “Every effort is being made to support those affected,” he said.
The cause of the crash remains unknown, but early indications suggest the aircraft failed to climb properly after takeoff.
As investigators prepare to recover the flight recorders, families in India, the UK, and beyond await answers—and grieve the loss of lives tragically cut short.
