[By Guancha Observer Net邵昀]
Local time on the afternoon of the 12th, an Indian Airlines Boeing 787-8 passenger plane carrying 242 people quickly crashed after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport in western India. According to Indian media NEWS18, the accident has caused at least 133 deaths and 30 injuries, but this figure has not been officially confirmed.
This is the first crash of a Boeing 787 of this kind. Affected by the crash, Boeing's stock fell sharply before the U.S. market opened, plummeting more than 8% at one point. On the 12th, Boeing responded that it had learned about the preliminary report of the incident and was working to gather more information.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of India reported on the 12th that the flight number of the crashed aircraft was AI-171. After taking off from Ahmedabad Airport at 1:39 PM that day, it sent out a distress signal to the air traffic control tower (ATC), but afterward did not respond to any calls from ATC, and "immediately fell to the ground outside the airport boundary" after leaving the runway. Thick smoke rose from the scene of the accident.
Indian media NEWS18 reported that the crashed aircraft hit the undergraduate dormitory building of a nearby medical college, causing an explosion. It was reported that students were eating lunch inside the dormitory building at the time. According to sources, the accident caused at least 133 deaths and 30 injuries.
Crash footage, Indian media
Accident aircraft hit a doctor's dormitory, Indian media
The flight was originally planned to fly to Gatwick Airport in London, UK. The Times of India pointed out that due to the scheduled long-distance flight, the aircraft was refueled with a large amount of fuel, which led to an explosion and intense fire after the crash. Indian media footage showed that the crashed passenger plane quickly turned into a fireball after falling.
According to The Indian Express, at least seven fire trucks have rushed to the accident site after the incident. In addition, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has dispatched three rescue teams, totaling 90 people, from Gandhinagar to the scene. The NDRF said that three more teams are on their way for reinforcements from Vadodara.
Online circulating photo of the wrecked aircraft, social media
India Airlines also confirmed the crash on the 12th. Its latest disclosure shows that there were a total of 242 people on board, including two pilots and ten crew members, with 169 Indian citizens, 53 British citizens, one Canadian citizen, and seven Portuguese citizens.
According to The Indian Today, its obtained passenger list shows that former Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani (Vijay Rupani) was also on this flight.
India Airlines has not disclosed more details about the accident. However, according to Indian media citing expert analysis, the crashed India Airlines aircraft may have encountered a bird strike, causing it to fail to reach the optimal takeoff speed, thus triggering the accident. Currently, Ahmedabad Airport has suspended operations, and all flights have been halted until further notice.
The UK Foreign Office issued a statement on its website on the 12th, saying that the UK is cooperating with the Indian government to urgently ascertain the truth of the crash and provide support to relevant personnel. Prime Minister Modi also spoke about the crash, stating that the aircraft disaster was "heartbreaking beyond words."
UK Prime Minister Starmer expressed concern about the crash on the 12th. "An Indian Airlines flight carrying many British citizens heading to London crashed in the Indian city of Ahmedabad, which is heartbreaking. I have been following developments closely, and my heart goes out to the passengers and their families during this deeply sorrowful time."
India Airlines' latest post, its social media profile picture has been changed to black, screenshot
Ahmedabad is the capital of Gujarat, and Modi is from Gujarat. It was reported that Modi had already spoken with Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on the 12th regarding the crash and requested that both ministers go to Ahmedabad to ensure that all possible assistance is provided to affected civilians.
Due to the crash, Boeing's stock fell sharply before the U.S. market opened, plummeting more than 8% at one point. Observers Network columnist and civil aviation commentator Zhang Zhonglin stated that this is the first major accident involving a Boeing 787. From the circulating video of the crash, the landing gear was not retracted, and the flaps were not deployed, which is abnormal. The aircraft may have lost power after lifting off, but whether it was due to human factors or mechanical issues cannot yet be concluded.
Zhang Zhonglin pointed out that India's aviation safety record is not good, but quality problems with the Boeing 787 have also been exposed. "The production of Boeing 787s has all been transferred to the North Charleston plant, known for its low worker qualifications and poor product quality."
Zhang Zhonglin said that at the end of May, Boeing had just announced a significant improvement in production quality and was preparing to increase the monthly production of 737MAX to 47 units, with the market having very optimistic sentiments, leading to a surge in stock prices. But now, the occurrence of the 787 crash will deal a heavy blow to Boeing, which had just claimed to have emerged from the shadows.
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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7515018234173719077/
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