New Delhi: An Air India plane with more than 200 people on board crashed near the airport in India’s western city of Ahmedabad, the airline and police officials said on Thursday, without specifying whether there were any fatalities.
The plane was headed to London’s Gatwick airport in the United Kingdom, Air India said, while police officers said it crashed in a civilian area near the airport.
“Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today,” Air India said on X. “At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest.
An Air India 787-8 Dreamliner in 2014.Credit: iStock
The crash occurred when the aircraft was taking off, television channels reported. Visuals showed debris on fire, with thick black smoke rising up into the sky near the airport.
They also showed people being moved in stretchers and being taken away in ambulances.
At least 242 people were on board the flight, police said.
India’s aviation minister said rescue teams had been mobilised.
The aircraft involved in the crash was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, according to Flightradar24.
