An Air India flight crashed mere minutes after takeoff on Thursday afternoon with more than 200 passengers on board. The flight had departed from Ahmedabad airport around 1:30 pm and issued a mayday call moments later. The plane crashed minutes after taking off with at least 242 people on board.
“Shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad. We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action. Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site. My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families,” Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu wrote on X.
According to an update shared by his office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also spoken to Naidu to take stock of the crash incident. The Minister informed the Prime Minister that he is rushing to Ahmedabad to oversee rescue and relief operations on the ground. The PM also directed the Minister to ensure that all necessary support is extended immediately and asked to be kept regularly updated on the situation. All relevant agencies are on high alert, and coordinated efforts are underway
Meanwhile the DGCA confirmed that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was an LTC with 8200 hours of experience, while the co-pilot had 1100 hours of flying experience. It also quoted Air Traffic Control to confirm that the plane had departed from runway 23 in Ahmadabad at 1:39 pm.
“It gave a MAYDAY call to ATC, but thereafter, no response was given by the aircraft to the calls made by ATC. Aircraft immediately after departure from Runway 23, fell on the ground outside the airport perimeter. Heavy black smoke was seen coming from the accident site,” the DGCA confirmed.