Taiwan confirms no citizens on crashed Air India flight

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA, 外交部) confirmed there were no Taiwanese passengers aboard Air India flight AI 171, which crashed Thursday (June 12) afternoon shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's international airport in Gujarat State. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London's Gatwick Airport, went down in a catastrophic accident that sent shockwaves through the international aviation community. The ministry's swift confirmation provided relief to families and officials monitoring the unfolding tragedy as emergency responders rushed to the crash site where thick smoke billowed from the wreckage.

Dense columns of smoke rose dramatically from the crash site, forcing local authorities to immediately close surrounding roadways to facilitate emergency response operations. Asian News International (ANI, 亞洲國際新聞) reported that the aircraft was carrying at least 242 people, though the full extent of casualties remains unknown as rescue efforts continue. Emergency responders, including specialized fire trucks and medical teams, rapidly deployed to the scene to conduct intensive search and rescue operations. The situation continues to develop rapidly, with officials promising regular updates as their comprehensive investigation into the tragic incident progresses. ◼