India’s aviation minister has stated that rescue teams have been mobilised. The Chief Minister of Gujarat has stated that officials have been instructed to carry out ‘immediate rescue and relief operations’ and to make arrangements on a ‘war footing’. A green corridor for injured passengers has been arranged to ensure priority at the hospital. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been sent from Delhi to investigate the cause of the incident.

While the cause of the crash is unclear, the loss of signal shortly before the crash indicates a critical systems failure is likely. There was high visibility of six kilometres, and there were light surface winds, so a weather-induced accident is unlikely. An investigation into the cause of the incident will almost certainly be quickly carried out by the DGCA and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), who will attempt to recover the black boxes (flight data and cockpit voice recorders) to determine the nature of the crash.

The last fatal plane crash in India occurred at Kozhikode International Airport (CCJ) in 2020, where the plane skidded off the runway and crashed into the ground. 21 people were killed and over 100 were injured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will likely declare a day of national mourning over the victims of the crash as casualty figures become clear. If the cause of the crash is deemed to be due to poor maintenance, regulatory failures, or negligence, demonstrations are likely to occur outside the airport or outside government buildings.

There will almost certainly be significant flight disruptions over the coming hours. Flight tracking sources indicate that incoming domestic flights have been diverted back to their airports of origin, and departure flights have been cancelled.