Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Namita Singh

London Gatwick-bound flight crashes with 242 people aboard right after India take-off

  • An Air India flight AI171, bound for London Gatwick with 232 passengers and 12 crew members, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat, India, at 1.39pm local time (8.09am BST).
  • The Boeing 787 aircraft crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar, located outside the airport perimeter, after the pilot made a mayday call to air traffic control with no subsequent response.
  • India’s civil aviation authority, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), reported heavy black smoke at the crash site and confirmed that emergency teams have been deployed.
  • Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu expressed his condolences and assured swift action, stating that rescue teams have been mobilised to provide medical aid and relief support.
  • The flight was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with 8,200 hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours; London Gatwick confirmed the flight was due to land at 18:25 local time.

IN FULL

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.