Air India Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Crashes: 120 Feared Dead Shocks Nation

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 12: A peaceful Thursday afternoon turned into a nightmare as an Air India flight AI171, which was heading to London, crashed merely five minutes after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The Air India flight AI171 had 242 people on board. It crashed into a residential area in Meghani Nagar. This shook the city and left behind thick smoke, fire, and unbearable grief. The impact was so massive that nearby buildings and a hostel at BJ Medical College suffered heavy damage.

Rescue Teams Rush As Hope Fades

Emergency sirens filled the streets as rescue and medical teams rushed to the site. Over 120 people are feared dead. Some injured were quickly taken to nearby hospitals. The Civil Aviation Ministry activated an Operational Control Room. The Gujarat CM ordered green corridors to shift survivors. Home Minister Amit Shah and PM Modi took stock of the situation. Local people and officials united in helping shoulder to shoulder, hoping to save as many lives as possible.

MAYDAY Call Just Before the Silence

Before the crash, the pilots made a MAYDAY call to the air traffic control. However, no response came after that. It was 1:38 PM when the flight took off, and just five minutes later, it fell from the sky. This is not the first time a plane has gone down, but the speed of this crash stunned even experienced aviation experts. Visuals showed debris atop buildings and fires across the crash zone. Many compared it to past disasters in Indian aviation history.

Global Shock and Emotional Reactions

Not just India, the world watched in disbelief. Among the 242 passengers were 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese, and one Canadian. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed sadness, saying he was being kept updated. Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov shared his condolences. In India, Rahul Gandhi asked Congress workers to help with relief. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and many others also expressed sorrow. Social media flooded with support messages, prayers, and updates from the crash zone.

Airport Closed, Investigation Underway

After the incident, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport was closed temporarily. Flights were stopped. Passengers were asked to check with their airlines. Investigations are now on, with the aviation ministry collecting black box data and other records. Families of passengers were given hotline numbers to seek help.