A devastating Air India crash has claimed the lives of more than 260 people after Flight A171 went down in a residential neighborhood shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad, India, en route to London’s Gatwick Airport. Out of the 242 people on board, just one survived. Several people on the ground were also killed.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner issued a mayday call moments after takeoff, reaching only about 625 feet in altitude before crashing. While the exact cause is still unknown, one of the aircraft’s black boxes has been recovered. Investigators are urging the public not to jump to conclusions as the inquiry continues.

Preliminary footage and radar data suggest the jet may have stalled due to a possible loss of engine thrust. Aviation experts emphasize that takeoff is one of the most dangerous phases of flight and are questioning how such a failure could happen so soon after liftoff. Weather conditions were reported to be clear at the time, eliminating turbulence as a likely cause.

Air India, Boeing, and GE Aerospace are all working together to uncover what went wrong. Witnesses described horrifying scenes—flames engulfing the aircraft and panicked residents fleeing or leaping from buildings.

Our deepest condolences go out to the victims, survivors, and their families.