Visuals on local television channels showed. smoke billowing from the crash site near.
the airport in Ahmedabad a city with a population exceeding 5 million.
Faiz Ahmed Kidwai the Director General of the Directorate of Civil Aviation, told .
The Associated Press that Air India flight AI. 171,a Boeing 787-8,crashed into a residential. area called Meghani Nagar five minutes.
after taking off at 1:38 p.m.
local timeThere were 242 passengers, and 12 crewmembers onboard.
the flight, which had been.
bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, Kidwai said.
Gatwick posted on X that.
it could confirm the flight, which had been due to arrive at 6:25 p.m.
in London, had crashed on departure.
India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu.
posted on X that rescue teams have been mobilized.
and all efforts are being made.
toensuremedicalaidandreliefsupportatthe site.
We are on highest alert.
I am personally monitoringthesituationhesaid.
The 787 Dreamliner is a widebody, twinengine plane.
This is the first crash ever of a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety. Network database.
The aircraft was introduced in 2009 and more than 1,000 have been.
delivered to dozens of.
airlines, according to the flightradar24 website.
Air India’s chairman, Natarajan. Chandrasekaran, said at the moment our. primary focus is on supporting all the affected. people and their families.
He saidonXthattheairlinehad.
setupanemergency center.
and support team for families seeking. information about those who were on the flight.