AAIB to probe Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad; Boeing reacts to mishap

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will conduct a probe into the Air India flight AI171 crash that occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon, an official said.

The Dreamliner Boeing 787 aircraft, bound for London Gatwick, crashed minutes after departing from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, with 242 people on board, including 12 crew members.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed the aircraft gave a "Mayday" call but lost contact with Air Traffic Control immediately afterwards.

AAIB Director General and Director of Investigation at the agency, among others, will be leaving for Ahmedabad, the official said.

Under the civil aviation ministry, the AAIB is responsible for investigating aircraft accidents and serious incidents in Indian airspace and recommending safety improvements.

As per DGCA, the aircraft took off at 1:39 pm IST from Runway 23. Within seconds, it crashed in the Meghaninagar area, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air.

Citing the initial ADS-B data, flight tracking service Flightradar24 said the aircraft reached a maximum barometric altitude of 625 feet and then it started to descend with a vertical speed of 475 feet per minute.

The aircraft was being flown by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain (LTC) with 8,200 hours of experience, along with First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours.

Of the 242 people who were onboard the aircraft, there were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portugese nationals and one Canadian national.

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, who was in Vijayawada at the time of the incident, expressed shock and said he was personally monitoring the situation.

“We are on highest alert. I 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,” he posted on X.

The minister flew to Ahmedabad to oversee the situation on the ground.

Aircraft manufacturer Boeing, in a brief statement, said, “We are aware of initial reports and are working to gather more information.”

Air India, in a post on X, said it has set up a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 to provide more information.

An operational control room has been activated at the ministry to oversee and coordinate all necessary response measures.

"For assistance or information, kindly contact: (Delhi Control Room) 011-24610843/ 9650391859... Operation Control Room (Ahmedabad) 9978405304/ 079-23251900," Airports Authority of India (AAI) said in a post on X.