Boeing ‘working to gather more information’ on Air India plane crash

US aerospace giant Boeing said on Thursday that it was “aware of initial reports” regarding the crash of an Air India flight bound for London and was “working to gather more information” about the incident.

Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers and crew, went down shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad in western India, officials confirmed.

According to preliminary reports, the aircraft was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport when it crashed in a civilian residential area near Ahmedabad Airport. Local authorities have yet to confirm details on casualties or the cause of the accident.

Data from Flightradar24 indicated that the aircraft involved was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. However, Reuters noted it could not independently verify the aircraft model at the time of reporting.

Boeing, which has faced heightened scrutiny over safety standards in recent years, said it was coordinating with Air India and relevant authorities to ascertain further details.

Meanwhile, the crash sent shockwaves through financial markets, with Boeing’s shares sliding 7.8% in premarket US trading, falling to $197.30 per share.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with Boeing yet to issue a detailed statement. Air India also confirmed the incident but has not yet released a passenger manifest or further details about the condition of those on board.

This tragedy marks another crisis for Boeing as it seeks to restore confidence in its fleet following a series of safety concerns and operational mishaps involving its aircraft over the past few years.

Authorities are expected to release more information as rescue operations and investigations continue at the crash site.