London-bound Plane Crashes With Over 240 On Board

What began as a routine international flight out of western India ended in chaos and tragedy on Wednesday, when an Air India aircraft carrying 242 people crashed moments after takeoff.

The plane, headed for London’s Gatwick Airport with 53 Britons among the passengers, went down near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, crashing into a densely populated civilian area not far from the runway.

Local police confirmed that at least 242 passengers were on board the ill-fated flight. The number of casualties has not yet been officially released, but visuals from the scene show victims being carried on stretchers and rushed into ambulances as emergency crews battle flames and thick black smoke billowing from the wreckage.

Television footage captured scenes of devastation—charred debris, damaged buildings, and stunned bystanders watching rescue teams scramble to control the situation.

“The details are still emerging. We are assessing the situation and will share verified updates shortly,” Air India says in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.

The crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner reportedly occurred during takeoff.

The impact also damaged several nearby structures, though the full extent of the destruction is yet to be confirmed. Rescue operations are underway, and hospitals across the city have been placed on high alert.