The mishap caused extensive damage to buildings on the premises, with residents of the adjoining quarters reportedly injured in the incident
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft (AI171) had 242 people, including 12 crew members, onboard. It crashed in Meghaninagar, near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, on Thursday around 1.45 pm
A senior Ahmedabad Police officer said the London-bound flight crashed into a doctors' hostel soon after taking off. He added that around 70 to 80 per cent of the crash site had been cleared, and urged the public to help create a "green corridor" for ambulances to transport the injured to hospitals
Meanwhile, an eyewitness said that the plane was flying very low just before it struck the multi-floor residential buildings of the government college. He also said that many residents were injured and the buildings caught fire
Following the tragic incident, the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad was closed for a brief period. The flight operations were also temporarily suspended
Meanwhile, Air India stated that of the 242 people on board, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one a Canadian national
A statement by the airline states that flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed after its departure at 1.38 pm. The airline said the injured individuals are being transported to nearby hospitals and a dedicated passenger hotline (1800 5691 444) has been set up for information for the passengers' families
Meanwhile, the Gujarat government has mobilised three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, comprising 90 personnel from Gandhinagar, to the crash site
Ahmedabad City Police has issued an emergency number, 07925620359, for information regarding the plane crash
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