Air India 787 Crash: First-Ever for Dreamliner

An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick with 242 people onboard, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon. The aircraft, flown by experienced pilots, issued a MAYDAY call and lost contact before crashing into a residential area, sparking a massive fire and thick black smoke. Emergency response included the NDRF, and airport operations were suspended as rescue and recovery continued, with casualty figures still unconfirmed. This marks the first-ever crash involving a Boeing 787 aircraft. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation and possibly Boeing technical teams have launched an investigation. Top government officials, including the Union Home Minister and Civil Aviation Minister, are closely monitoring and supporting the response.