Tragedy in the Skies: 169 Indians, 53 British Nationals Among Victims of Air India London-Bound Flight Crash

Ahmedabad : The tragic crash of Air India’s Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick has claimed the lives of passengers from multiple nationalities, including 169 Indians and 53 British nationals, an airline official confirmed on Thursday. The flight, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 p.m. IST and crashed shortly after takeoff.

The ill-fated aircraft was carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members, comprising 10 cabin crew and two pilots. The pilot-in-command, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned aviator with over 8,200 flying hours, was joined by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours of flying experience. Also on board were seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian.

This is the first major air accident since Air India was privatized and taken over by the Tata Group in January 2022. As a gesture of mourning, Air India changed its profile and cover photos to black on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.

Expressing deep sorrow, Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran posted on X, “With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad–London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event.”

Chandrasekaran further stated that emergency response teams are working on-site and the airline is offering full support to the victims’ families. A dedicated helpline—1800 5691 444—has been launched, and support teams have been deployed to assist relatives and provide verified updates.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft gave a Mayday distress call moments after departure but failed to respond further. It crashed outside the airport boundary, indicating it was unable to climb adequately after takeoff.

DGCA investigators, along with Boeing representatives, have reached the site to recover flight data recorders, cockpit voice recorders, and gather eyewitness accounts to understand the cause of the accident.

The nation remains in shock as rescue efforts continue and investigations unfold.