The Air India plane took off from Ahmedabad in western India on Thursday, June 12
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NEED TO KNOW
- A passenger jet bound for London’s Gatwick Airport crashed shortly after take-off in India on June 12
- The plane was carrying 242 passengers and crew from India, Canada, the U.K. and Portugal
- “The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals,” Air India said in a statement on X
A passenger jet bound for London has crashed shortly after take-off in India.
More than 240 people were onboard the Air India plane, which took off from Ahmedabad in western India on Thursday, June 12, and was headed to London’s Gatwick Airport, Air India confirmed.
Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the directorate of civil aviation, told the Associated Press that the jet crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar five minutes after taking off at 1:38 p.m. local time.
Kidwai added that were 12 crew members onboard.
Indian health minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said ‘many people’ were killed in the crash, reported The Guardian.
In a post on X, Air India shared, “Air India confirms that flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an accident today after take-off.”
“The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals,” the post continued.
“The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals,” Air India added.
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India’s aviation minister, Shri. Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, also posted on X following the incident and shared his “thoughts and prayers” with all those involved.
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“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 being rushed to the site,” he wrote.
“My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families,” he added.
In a statement posted on X, per BBC News, Air India’s chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, said that it was “with profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today”.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event,” he added. “At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families.”
