Air India London-Bound Flight with 242 Passengers Crashes Near Ahmedabad Airport

Ahmedabad, June 12 : A major aviation tragedy struck on Thursday afternoon when an Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff near Ahmedabad’s Meghani Nagar area, just a few kilometers from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft was carrying 242 people, including passengers and crew.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft took off from runway 23 at 1:39 PM. Within five minutes of departure, the plane lost contact with air traffic control and crashed in a densely populated locality. Eyewitnesses reported a loud explosion followed by thick plumes of black smoke rising into the sky. Panic gripped the nearby residents as emergency responders rushed to the scene.

Visuals circulating on social media showed intense flames engulfing the wreckage, with rescue teams battling to douse the fire and evacuate survivors. Local police, fire services, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) units have been deployed to assist with rescue and recovery operations.

Though the exact number of casualties remains unconfirmed, preliminary reports suggest multiple fatalities. Hospitals in the area have been placed on high alert, and special emergency wards have been activated to treat the injured.

DGCA officials are on-site and have initiated a full-scale investigation into the cause of the crash. Technical malfunction, engine failure, and possible bird hits are all being considered as potential causes, though nothing has been officially ruled out.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the incident and assured that all necessary support would be extended to the affected families. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also tweeted, stating, “Shocked and pained by the tragic crash near Ahmedabad. Our thoughts are with the families of those affected. A thorough investigation has been ordered.”

This is one of the most serious aviation accidents involving a commercial aircraft in India in recent years, and authorities have promised a transparent and swift inquiry to determine the circumstances behind the crash.