A plane flying to London crashed in India. Basic information

A major plane crash near Ahmedabad airport in the western Indian state of Gujarat has become a serious test not only for the country, but also for world aviation. On June 12, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed just two minutes after taking off for London. According to Flightradar, the flight began at 10:06 local time, and the last signal from the plane was received at 10:08.

The crash site was not far from the airport - in a residential area, near a medical university dormitory. The plane crashed into a building, killing not only the passengers but also people on the ground. Thick smoke rose from the scene, and videos of the plane before and after the crash were widely shared on social media.

It was reported that there were 242 people on board the plane - 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Among them were citizens of India, Great Britain, Portugal, and Canada. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan officially confirmed that there was no information about the presence of Uzbeks. 11 of the passengers were children. After the incident, local TV channels initially reported that 133 people had died. According to Reuters, more than 100 bodies were brought to hospitals, and the death toll may rise.

The victims of the plane crash were not only passengers and crew, but also people on the ground - mainly students and local residents. Reuters reported that rescuers found the bodies of 30-35 people under the rubble.

Air India issued an official statement, saying that there had been an "incident" with flight AI171 to London and that additional information would be released later. London's Gatwick Airport said the flight was due to land at 6:25 p.m. local time.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner involved in the crash is a major loss and a very serious incident not only for Air India, but also for the entire Boeing company. This aircraft, part of the Dreamliner family, joined the Air India fleet in 2014, first flew in 2009 and has not had a major accident in 15 years. The Dreamliner is Boeing's innovative development, made of composite materials, is fuel-efficient and capable of flying long distances. However, technical problems are not alien to this type of aircraft: in 2013, all Dreamliners were temporarily grounded by Japanese airlines due to a lithium-ion battery fire.

The tragedy was also a heavy blow to global aviation. Boeing shares fell by 8 percent in US trading after the crash. This seriously affected market confidence in the company. Boeing has been criticized for technical problems and other accidents in recent years, and now the Dreamliner crash has become another such test.

The causes of the crash have not yet been officially announced. Rescue and investigation work are ongoing. India's health ministry admitted that "a very large number of people died," but the number of victims is being determined. According to an Indian police spokesman, there are practically no survivors from the crew and passengers.

The Ahmedabad tragedy was a new test of confidence not only in the country, but also in the aviation industry, flight safety and modern technology around the world. This disaster will undoubtedly leave a deep mark on the history of aviation and lead to further tightening of safety requirements.