Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashes after takeoff at Ahmedabad; 242 onboard

A major tragedy struck Gujarat this morning as Air India flight AI171, en route from Ahmedabad to London, reportedly crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

The aircraft involved, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with registration number VT-ANB, lost contact with radar at 08:08:51 UTC — just seconds after liftoff, according to aviation tracking service Flightradar24.

Initial reports suggest the plane went down in the Meghani area on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, sparking an immediate response from emergency and disaster response teams.

 “We have received confirmation of a crash involving Air India’s London-bound flight AI171. Rescue operations are underway,” a senior official at the Gujarat State Police Control Room told media.

The aircraft was reportedly carrying 242 passengers, including crew members. The condition of those onboard is currently unknown, with multiple ambulances, fire tenders, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) units dispatched to the site.

Eyewitnesses in the Meghani area described a loud explosion followed by plumes of black smoke rising from the crash site. “It felt like an earthquake. We saw flames and people running toward the fields,” said a local resident.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is one of the newer aircraft in Air India’s fleet, known for its advanced safety and fuel efficiency. The aircraft VT-ANB was delivered to Air India in 2012 and has been operating international routes regularly.

According to Flightradar24, the aircraft’s last transponder signal was recorded shortly after takeoff, which may indicate a catastrophic technical failure or other critical issue during the climb-out phase.

This is a developing story.