Dreamliner abruptly veered left on runway before take off
After moving from the taxiway to the runway, the fateful Air India Dreamliner began its ascent but abruptly veered left, with its tail section dipping downward before crashing into the building.
The aircraft, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, totalling 242 people, plummeted into the airport premises, striking a multi-storey building known as the 'Joint Interrogation Centre' adjacent to the residential Meghaninagar area, specifically a doctors' hostel.
FlightRadar24 reported the last signal at 625 feet—barely above the airport’s 200-foot altitude—seconds after take-off.
An unverified video circulating online purportedly shows the tail striking the ground shortly after lift-off, igniting a fire upon impact.
The crash site, within the airport perimeter but perilously close to Meghaninagar’s residential zone, is engulfed in chaos.
Local sources report the aircraft disintegrated rapidly, failing to gain significant altitude, which may amplify the scale of destruction.
Eyewitnesses described a deafening explosion followed by thick black smoke. "The plane just dropped, and then there was fire everywhere," a resident told reporters.
Fire brigades, ambulances, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are battling the blaze and extracting survivors, with bodies still being recovered.
All roads around the site are sealed, and a green corridor has been established to rush the injured to Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed catastrophically at 1:38 PM IST on Thursday, just five minutes after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA).
The crash, the first of its kind for the Boeing 787 model, has triggered a massive rescue operation and suspended all flight operations at Ahmedabad airport.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft departed from Runway 23 at 1:38 PM.
This marks the first crash of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a model launched in 2011 that recently celebrated carrying 1 billion passengers across 5 million flights.
Boeing responded cautiously: “We are aware of initial reports and are working to gather more information.”
The incident is a significant setback for the company, already grappling with scrutiny over its 737 programs following fatal crashes.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, nearing his first anniversary, faces a critical test as investigators probe the cause.
The DGCA and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have launched a full investigation, with Boeing likely to assist.
Preliminary theories point to a possible mechanical failure or control issue, given the abrupt left turn and rapid descent. The black box and flight data will be critical to understanding the sequence of events.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel ordered immediate rescue efforts, stating, “I am saddened by the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.
Administrative officials have been directed to start rescue work, and the injured are to be treated on a war footing.”
As rescue teams work tirelessly, the nation awaits clarity on casualties and the cause of this unprecedented tragedy.
The crash’s proximity to a residential area raises fears of extensive loss, both among passengers and on the ground. Further updates will follow as details emerge.
