Air India Boeing 787 with 242 Onboard Crashes in Ahmedabad
In the worst aviation catastrophe of the last ten years, an Air India flight bound for London crashed minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon, claiming the lives of over 200 people.
Immediate Impact: The Flight and Crash Site
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people, departed from Ahmedabad Airport at 13:39 (local time) from Runway 23. Shortly after takeoff, it issued a Mayday emergency call, but no further communication was received from the aircraft. According to local television reports, the plane plunged into a residential area near the airport, directly hitting the dining hall of the B.J. Medical College hostel during lunchtime.
Victims and Survivors
City Police Chief G.S. Malik confirmed the recovery of 204 bodies, without specifying how many were passengers and how many were residents of the area. Authorities reported that 50 more people were hospitalized. Another police official, Vidhi Chaudhary, stated that at least one person survived: Ramesh Viswashkumar, seated in 11A, was found alive and taken to the hospital.
Viswashkumar recounted to Hindustan Times that thirty seconds after takeoff, he heard a loud explosion before the plane crashed. From his hospital bed, he described regaining consciousness surrounded by human remains and aircraft debris. He managed to run out and was assisted before being transported by ambulance. He is still searching for his brother Ajay, who was seated in another row of the plane.
→ Air India Negotiates New Mega Order for Narrow-Body Jets
Passenger Composition
Of the 230 passengers, there were 217 adults, 11 children, and 2 infants. Air India reported that among them were 169 Indian citizens, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian. Among the deceased was Vijay Rupani, former Chief Minister of Gujarat, as confirmed by Federal Minister C.R. Patil.
Ground Damage
The crash caused destruction in the B.J. Medical College area, affecting the student hostel, staff housing, and other residential zones. State Health Secretary Dhananjay Dwivedi noted that several residents were also injured. The impact scattered fuselage fragments and left the plane’s tail embedded in the rooftop of a building.
Ongoing Investigation
International experts have been mobilized. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead a team of American investigators traveling to India. Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, confirmed it is gathering information. GE Aerospace, responsible for the engines, will also send a team to analyze cockpit data.
Aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse highlighted a concerning detail: images of the aircraft showed the landing gear deployed during a phase of flight when it should have been retracted. “If you didn’t know what was happening, you’d think it was on final approach,” he said.
Response from Authorities and Industry
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief on social media platform X, calling the incident “heartbreaking beyond words.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the crash images as “devastating.”
Ahmedabad Airport, operated by the Indian conglomerate Adani Group, suspended operations after the accident but has since partially resumed. Gautam Adani assured that they are cooperating with authorities and assisting affected families.
Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran announced that the company will pay 10 million rupees (approximately USD 117,000) to each victim’s family, cover all medical expenses for the injured, and contribute to rebuilding the destroyed student hostel.
Air India Context and Background
Air India, acquired by Tata Group in 2022, was already under pressure to improve its operations. This accident marks the first fatal crash of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner since its commercial introduction in 2011. The aircraft was delivered to Air India in January 2014.
The last aviation tragedy in India occurred in 2020, when an Air India Express Boeing 737 overshot the runway in Kozhikode and plunged into a valley, killing 21 people.
Related Topics
JetBlue Lands in Honduras: Launches New Daily Flight Between New York and San Pedro Sula
Google Sues LATAM Airlines in U.S. Over YouTube Video Dispute
Silver Airways Suspends Operations
Miami International Airport Becomes First in the World with an App for Travelers with Low Vision
Plataforma Informativa de Aviación Comercial con 13 años de trayectoria.