India, June 12 -- In a devastating aviation tragedy, a London-bound Air India flight carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed near Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon, moments after takeoff. The crash has sparked fears of multiple casualties, though official confirmation on the death toll is awaited.

The ill-fated Boeing aircraft, operating as Flight AI171 to London Gatwick, reportedly lost altitude abruptly before crashing into the Meghani Nagar area around 2 pm, just minutes after departure from Ahmedabad International Airport. Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene as the aircraft came down, followed by a massive explosion and billowing black smoke visible for miles.

Air India confirmed the incident in a post on X, stating, "F...