At least 133 people have been confirmed dead following the crash of an Air India flight near Ahmedabad airport on Thursday, according to reports from multiple Indian media outlets.
The tragic incident occurred at approximately 1:17 PM as the aircraft, en route to London, attempted takeoff. The flight was carrying 232 passengers and 10 crew members at the time of the crash.
Preliminary passenger information reveals that the aircraft was transporting 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. Eyewitnesses reported thick plumes of smoke rising from Dharpur, near the Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad, shortly after the crash.
Emergency services, including the fire brigade and disaster response teams, were swiftly deployed to the scene. Rescue and recovery operations are currently underway. Authorities have not yet released an official statement regarding the cause of the crash.
In response to the disaster, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with Home Minister Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu. The Prime Minister has directed both ministers to travel to Ahmedabad immediately and ensure all necessary assistance is provided to those affected.
Earlier in the day, Home Minister Shah also held discussions with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to coordinate relief efforts and assess the situation on the ground.
