AHMEDABAD, June 12 — Hours after an Air India Dreamliner crashed near Ahmedabad airport shortly after takeoff, massive emergency operations have been launched to rescue survivors and control the aftermath of the tragic incident.
Three teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), comprising 90 personnel, were rushed from Gandhinagar to the crash site in the Meghaninagar area, where the plane’s wreckage scattered across a densely populated neighbourhood. According to an NDRF spokesperson, three additional teams are en route from Vadodara to strengthen the rescue effort.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to assess the situation. In a statement, Shah expressed concern and said the government is ensuring all necessary support is being extended.
Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu expressed shock at the tragedy, writing on X (formerly Twitter):
“Shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad. We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action. Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are rushed to the site. My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families.”
According to Air India, the aircraft involved was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, tail number VT-ANB, operating flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick Airport in England. The airline confirmed that 242 individuals were onboard, including 230 passengers, two pilots, and 10 cabin crew.
The plane crashed within minutes of takeoff, and visuals from the crash site showed the debris engulfed in flames, with thick smoke rising above residential buildings. Ambulances and fire engines were seen navigating narrow lanes to reach the crash zone, and several injured individuals were carried away on stretchers.
Flight operations at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport remain suspended. Authorities continue to assess the extent of the damage and search for survivors, as questions emerge about what caused the fatal crash.
