Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, June 12: While there is no official information till Thursday evening about the casualty figure in the deadly plane crash near the Ahmedabad airport, initial reports said at least 133 people were killed in the accident.
The incident took place when the Air India flight, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, including two pilots, was taking off for London at 1.38 PM.
The plane was carrying 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese, and one Canadian passenger. Heavy smoke was visible from Dharpur near the Meghaninagar area in Ahmedabad. The fire brigade has rushed to the spot, and emergency response teams are being mobilised. Authorities are yet to confirm the cause of the crash.
Reports said a “Mayday” distress call was issued by Air India’s AI 171 flight, minutes before it crashed after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad. But the London-bound aircraft did not receive any response from the Air Traffic Control (ATC), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement.
A “Mayday” call is an emergency procedure used internationally as a distress signal through radio communications; it signals a life-threatening emergency.
According to DGCA, the flight, a Boeing 787, took off from the airport’s runway 23 at 1.39pm for London Gatwick Airport. An aviation expert said the aircraft reportedly lost altitude soon after takeoff. According to preliminary information, the plane had reached approximately 825 feet when it suddenly descended.
A 17second video showed the aircraft crashing into a residential area. Visuals also showed thick black smoke rising up into the sky from the airport. The aircraft was piloted by captain Sumeet Sabharwal with 8,200 hours of experience and first officer Clive Kundar with 1,100 hours of experience, the DGCA said.
At least two dozen ambulances rushed to the spot. The police have also diverted traffic from the area. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said he was personally monitoring the situation and directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to initiate swift and coordinated action.
In a statement, Air India said, “The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals. We have also set up a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 to provide more information. Air India is giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident,” it said.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Home Minister Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu about the crash. The PM asked the two ministers to go to Ahmedabad and ensure all possible assistance is extended to those affected. Earlier today, Shah also spoke to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel following the crash.
Air India has changed its logo on social media handles to black after the deadly plane crash in Ahmedabad. Air India flight AI-171 bound for London was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which is a mid-size, twin-engine, wide-body jet airliner. Known for its fuel efficiency, comfortable passenger experience, and innovative design features like large windows with electronic dimming, the aircraft first took flight on December 15, 2009.
The British government has issued a travel advisory, which says, “We are aware of a plane crash in Ahmedabad. The UK is working with local authorities in India to urgently establish the facts and provide support to those involved.” Notably, at least 53 British nationals were in the flight that crashed in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
