An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, en route to London Gatwick, resulting in a devastating tragedy. The aircraft, carrying 244 people—232 passengers and 12 crew members—plummeted to the ground less than a minute after takeoff, crashing into a doctors’ hostel just outside the airport. According to early reports, at least 30 bodies have been recovered, with ongoing rescue efforts aimed at locating survivors and removing the injured from the wreckage. Video footage shows the aircraft flying low over residential areas before erupting into a fiery explosion, sending black smoke into the sky. Among those on board were 53 British nationals, 169 Indians, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian. Emergency teams are on site, with several injured individuals transported to hospitals for treatment.

Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran expressed deep sorrow over the crash, stating that the airline’s top priority is supporting victims’ families and aiding emergency responders. An emergency center and family support teams have been activated. The cause of the crash remains unknown, though an investigation is underway. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi both offered condolences, calling the incident “devastating” and “heartbreaking beyond words.” As the world reacts to this tragedy, authorities and aviation experts continue to search for answers to understand what led to one of India’s worst aviation disasters in recent memory.