BREAKING: Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashes in India
Editor's Note
An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London crashed Thursday in India, the airline said. There were 242 people on board.
The crash happened around 1:38 p.m. local time shortly after the aircraft took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) in Ahmedabad, located in western India.
The flight was operating as AI 171 en route to London Gatwick Airport (LGW).
In a statement posted to social media, Air India said there were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals on board the flight.
On board the aircraft were 230 passengers and a dozen crewmembers, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said in a recorded video statement Thursday.
"I would like to express our deep sorrow about this event, this is a difficult day for all of us at Air India," Wilson said. "Our efforts are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crewmembers, their families and loved ones."
Images shared widely on social media and by news outlets showed a large explosion at the crash scene. Air India executives stressed that the investigation into the crash would take time.
"Air India is giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident," the carrier said in a statement Thursday.
In a post to social media, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote: "The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words."
U.K. Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander said: "I am receiving regular updates on this emerging situation. The UK will continue to provide support to the Indian authorities."
The National Transportation Safety Board announced it would lead a team of U.S. investigators responding to the crash.
The flight was due to land at Gatwick at 6:25 p.m. local time. The airport said it is coordinating closely with the airline, and set up a reception center for relatives of those on board the flight.
The aircraft in question was an 11.5-year-old Dreamliner, manufactured in Seattle and delivered to Air India in January 2014. The carrier currently has 34 787s in service, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
In a statement to TPG Thursday morning, Boeing said it was "aware of initial reports" and working to gather more information.
"We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected," the U.S. plane maker said.
Thursday's crash was the first major wreck involving a Dreamliner, a U.S.-made aircraft that serves as the linchpin of many airlines' long-haul fleets.
Globally, there are more than 1,100 variants of the Dreamliner flying today, per Cirium.