Shocking footage captures Air India Boeing 787 in death dive as airline confirms devastating nationality breakdown
Horrifying video footage has emerged showing the final moments of Air India Flight AI171 as it plunged from the sky in a fireball, with the airline now confirming that 53 British nationals were among the 242 people on board the doomed jet.
The shocking video, captured by terrified residents and now spreading like wildfire across social media, shows the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner flying dangerously low over densely populated Meghani Nagar before descending rapidly and exploding in a massive fireball.
In the harrowing footage, locals can be heard screaming as the aircraft disappears behind buildings, followed by a thunderous explosion and towering plume of thick black smoke that could be seen for miles across Ahmedabad.
MAYDAY! MAYDAY! – PILOTS’ DESPERATE FINAL CALL
Chilling new details have emerged revealing that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, an experienced pilot with 8,200 hours of flying time, issued a desperate “Mayday” distress call shortly after takeoff – the highest-priority international emergency signal used only in the direst situations.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed the aircraft took off at 13:39 IST from Runway 23, and within minutes, the pilots made their frantic Mayday call before all communication ceased forever.
No further response came from the crew after the emergency call, leaving investigators to piece together what catastrophic failure struck the state-of-the-art Dreamliner just two minutes into its journey.
53 BRITONS CONFIRMED DEAD IN INTERNATIONAL TRAGEDY
Air India has released a devastating breakdown of the nationalities on board, confirming the worst fears of families across multiple nations:
The 242 victims comprised:
- 169 Indian nationals
- 53 British nationals
- 7 Portuguese nationals
- 1 Canadian national
- 12 crew members (including 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew)
“Air India confirms that flight AI171, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an accident today after take-off,” the airline stated in a somber announcement.
EYEWITNESS HORROR: ‘WE SAW A FIREBALL IN THE SKY’
Terrified eyewitnesses described hearing multiple explosions as the aircraft descended rapidly toward the residential area.
It felt like an earthquake,” local resident Dinesh Patel told reporters. Then we saw flames and heard people screaming.
The first video footage, recorded just minutes after impact, shows thick black smoke billowing from buildings, with flames engulfing the aircraft wreckage as emergency teams desperately attempted to reach survivors.
One MP, Shaktisinh Gohil, posted on social media that locals had sent him videos “too horrific to make public,” describing the crash as a “very painful tragedy.
EMERGENCY HOTLINE OVERWHELMED
As the scale of the disaster became clear, Air India established a dedicated passenger hotline – 1800 5691 444 – which has been overwhelmed with calls from desperate families seeking news of loved ones.
The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals,” the airline confirmed, though authorities have yet to reveal how many – if any – survived the catastrophic crash.
HIGH-PROFILE PASSENGER ABOARD
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was reportedly among the passengers, according to multiple Indian media reports, though this has not been officially confirmed.
The popular London route typically carries a mix of business travelers, tourists, and British-Indians visiting family, making this tragedy particularly devastating for communities in both nations.
TATA CHAIRMAN’S EMOTIONAL STATEMENT
In an emotional statement, Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran confirmed the tragedy: “With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event.”
GOVERNMENT SCRAMBLES RESPONSE
Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately contacted Home Minister Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, ordering them to rush to Ahmedabad and ensure “all possible assistance is extended to those affected.
Civil Aviation Minister Naidu tweeted he was “shocked and devastated,” adding: “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.”
FIRST CRASH OF BOEING 787
This marks the first crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft’s introduction in 2011, dealing a devastating blow to the aircraft’s previously impeccable safety record.
The aircraft, registered as VT-ANB, was commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain, assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 hours of flight time.
INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED
The DGCA has launched a full investigation into what caused the modern aircraft to crash just five minutes after takeoff, with Boeing expressing condolences and offering to assist investigators.
Air India stated it is “giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident,” as international aviation experts descend on Ahmedabad to determine what went so catastrophically wrong.
As night falls on this scene of unimaginable tragedy, the haunting video footage serves as a stark reminder of the 242 lives lost in what has become India’s deadliest aviation disaster in years – and Britain’s worst overseas air tragedy in decades.
