An Air India flight en route to London Gatwick has crashed moments after take-off from Ahmedabad airport in western India, with over 200 passengers reportedly on board.
Air India confirmed the incident in a brief statement: “Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today.”
While the airline has not yet disclosed further details, early reports suggest a major disaster.
According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, the last signal from the aircraft was received at an altitude of just 625 feet (190 metres), mere seconds after take-off. The plane is believed to have gone down in a nearby residential neighbourhood.
The extent of casualties remains unclear, but emergency services have been deployed to the crash site, with firefighting and rescue operations ongoing.
Reports say thick smoke and fire were visible from several blocks away, and some homes may have been struck. Local authorities are yet to confirm fatalities or the number of injured.
Chioma Kalu
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