By VK 
Air india-
Incident Summary
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Flight: Air India AI 171, Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner (Tail number: VT‑ANB)
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Route: From Ahmedabad to London (Gatwick)
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People Onboard: 242 (230 passengers, 12 crew members)
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Passengers included 169 Indians, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian
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Time: Took off at 1:38 AM IST; crash occurred just minutes after takeoff
Crash Details
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Just 5 minutes after takeoff, the plane crashed into a doctor’s hostel building near Meghani Nagar in Ahmedabad.
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Before crashing, the pilot sent a “Mayday” distress call to Air Traffic Control, but connection was lost shortly after.
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Eyewitnesses saw black smoke and fire rising from the crash site.
Rescue & Relief Efforts
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Firefighters, NDRF (National Disaster Response Force), ambulances, and hospitals were immediately activated.
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30–35 dead bodies have been recovered so far; the death toll may rise.
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Many injured people have been admitted to nearby hospitals.
Investigation & Reactions
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The DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) and AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau) have launched a full investigation.
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The black box (flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder) has been recovered and sent to Delhi for analysis.
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Boeing has said this is the first major crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in India, and they are gathering details.
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Reactions and condolences have come from PM Modi, Home Minister, Air India, and Tata Group.
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Ahmedabad airport was temporarily closed following the crash.
Current Situation
| Aspect | Status |
|---|---|
| Casualties | 30–35 confirmed dead (may rise) |
| Injured | Under treatment in various hospitals |
| Investigation Status | Ongoing; black box being analyzed |
| Airport Status | Operations resumed after brief shutdown |
Expert Analysis
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This crash is significant as it’s the first such incident involving the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in India.
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Possible causes (yet to be confirmed): technical failure, weather issues, takeoff procedure errors.
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The crash site being in a civilian residential area added more damage and danger to lives on the ground.
Next Steps
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Identify all deceased and inform families
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DGCA/AAIB to publish a full investigation report
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Possible changes in aviation safety policies based on findings