Air India Flight A171 Crash: Over 260 Dead in India’s Worst Aviation Disaster in Years

In a devastating tragedy, Air India Flight A171 crashed just after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing over 260 people. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for Gatwick, failed to gain altitude and slammed into a nearby residential area. Of the 242 passengers, only one survived. Several residents on the ground also perished in the crash, turning a quiet neighborhood into a war zone.

Eyewitnesses reported flames, collapsing buildings, and bodies strewn across the streets. “Many of the bodies were burned,” said local resident Poonam Patni. People jumped from balconies to escape the fire, while neighbors raced in to help.

The flight crew issued a mayday call just before impact. Investigators have recovered one black box, and preliminary theories suggest a sudden loss of thrust. Experts say the crash occurred at just 190 meters altitude—far too low for effective recovery.

Air India and Boeing are cooperating on the investigation. The world watches, grieving and waiting for answers.