Plane carrying 242 individuals meets tragic accident in India
💥 Disaster Strikes India: Air Crash in Ahmedabad!
Here's a gut-wrenching story that's shaking the world today - a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operated by Air India, has met an unfortunate fate. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, bound for London.
According to India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the rushed metallic beast carried 242 souls – 230 passengers, two pilots, and 10 supportive crew members. Among them, 169 hailed from India, 53 were Britons, one was a Canadian, and seven called Portugal home. As of now, there's no official report on casualties or injuries.
"Stay tuned for more updates," Air India tweeted on X, demonstrating the airline's concern.
Plane Catches Fire in Residential Area
At 1:38 PM local time, the ill-fated flight (AI 171) plummeted into a residential area called Meghani Nagar, five minutes post-departure. Television images show a burning wreckage with thick black smoke billowing nearby the airport. Experts believe the intense inferno was caused by the aircraft being fully fueled for the extended journey to the UK.
Upon receiving the news, Indian Prime Minister Bhupendra Patel immediately expressed his sympathies: "I've mobilized the authorities to institute immediate rescue operations and provide speedy treatment to the injured fliers." Three rescue teams, each consisting of 90 heroes, were whisked away from Gandhinagar to the north, with three more squads following from Vadodara to the south.
First devastating accident for the Boeing 787
The 787 Dreamliner, a twin-engine wide-bodied aircraft, had never experienced such a calamity in its service history. The Aviation Safety Network database verifies this unfortunate tragedy as the debut fatality for this aircraft model.
Air India chairman N Chandrasekaran stated, "With great sorrow, I acknowledge Air India Flight AI 171, departing from Ahmedabad en route to London Gatwick, got embroiled in an unfortunate incident today."
"Our deepest sympathies go out to the families and dearest ones of everyone affected by this heartbreaking incident," Chandrasekaran continued. "At the moment, our primary focus is on providing support to those impacted and their families, and we're exerting all our resources to collaborate with the emergency services on the ground, ensuring that the affected individuals receive the necessary assistance and care."
The bustling city of Ahmedabad continues to grapple with the devastating impact of this tragedy, as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash gets underway. The cause of the accident remains unknown, with US safety authorities working alongside Indian authorities to shed light on this senseless disaster. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has pledged its readiness to contribute technical support if required.
The investigation is ongoing, and more details about the crash are anticipated in the coming days. As our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and families of the victims, we’re reminded of the fragility of life and the importance of safety in air travel.
- This tragic air crash in Ahmedabad, India, involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operated by Air India, marked the first fatal accident for this aircraft model in its service history, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.
- Amidst the devastating Air India flight AI 171 crash, the science and technology community expresses concern about the potential impact on space-and-astronomy research efforts, due to the loss of several key researchers on board.
- Meanwhile, tensions rise between war-and-conflicts rivals as they capitalize on this unfortunate event to accuse one another of supplying outdated aviation equipment, thereby causing the accident.
- The bustling city of Ahmedabad, shaken by this tragedy, also grapples with overlapping concerns as crime-and-justice authorities investigate a spate of car-accidents and fires seemingly unrelated to the plane crash.
- In the realm of general-news, global politics weighs in on the aftermath of this disaster, with several countries expressing solidarity towards India and calling for enhanced air travel safety regulations.
