An Air India flight carrying 242 passengers and crew members, bound for London, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday. The incident occurred at around 1:38 pm local time, with reports indicating that the plane had sent out a “Mayday” call before losing contact with air traffic control.
Over 100 bodies have been brought to a local hospital in Ahmedabad following the crash, according to local police. The airline has confirmed that the injured are being taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Emergency services are currently on the scene, with rescue teams working to assist those affected.
The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, which was being operated by Air India, is reported to have lost signal less than a minute after takeoff, according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24. The cause of the crash is currently unknown, but authorities are investigating the incident.
According to reports from The Guardian and Al Jazeera, this incident marks the first crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Despite some issues with engine problems on the 787 model, the plane’s safety record has been relatively good until now. The Aviation Safety Network database has also confirmed that this is the first-ever crash of a Boeing 787 aircraft.