A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner heading to London crashed on Thursday shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad in western India. All 242 people on board are believed to have died.
What happened?
The Air India flight was going to Gatwick Airport in London. It took off from Ahmedabad around 1:40 pm local time, but sent a mayday signal soon after and crashed. The Indian aviation authority said it went down immediately after takeoff.
Videos posted online, which haven’t been confirmed, show the plane falling quickly with its nose up before hitting a building and bursting into flames.
The airline said the passengers included 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian. Two pilots and ten crew members were also on board.
Devastating scene
The plane crashed into a residential building in a busy part of the city, home to doctors and their families. Witnesses described people jumping from the building to escape the fire.
An AFP reporter saw bodies being recovered and firefighters trying to put out the fire. One local resident said many of the bodies were badly burned.
No survivors expected
A local police chief said there seemed to be no survivors and warned there could be more victims from the building. So far, 204 bodies have been found, including people from both the plane and the area around the crash.
India’s aviation ministry has sent emergency teams to respond quickly. The airport has been closed and all flights are suspended.
Air India has opened a support center to help families of the victims.
Boeing responds
Boeing said it is looking into the crash and is ready to help Air India. A source said this is the first time a 787 Dreamliner has ever crashed.
The 787 is known for its long-distance range, fuel efficiency, and ability to carry over 300 passengers. Air India had recently placed a large order for hundreds of new aircraft, including 220 from Boeing.
