A London-bound Air India passenger plane crashed into a residential area in the Indian city of Ahmedabad on Thursday, leaving over 200 dead and only one confirmed survivor from the 242 people on board. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner smashed into buildings housing doctors and their families shortly after takeoff, igniting fires and spreading thick black smoke across the city.
An AFP journalist at the scene witnessed the recovery of bodies and parts of the aircraft hanging from the damaged structures. The nose and front wheel of the plane landed on a canteen where students were having lunch, according to an eyewitness doctor identified as Krishna. Rescue teams managed to save around 15 students, but many were not so fortunate. City police commissioner GS Malik confirmed that 204 bodies had been recovered so far, while dozens of injured victims were receiving treatment in local hospitals.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief, saying: “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words.” The crash has also drawn reactions from international leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III, who both described the incident as “devastating.”
According to India’s civil aviation authority, the flight was carrying 242 people — including two pilots, 10 cabin crew, 169 Indians, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian — en route to London Gatwick Airport. The plane issued a mayday call before crashing almost immediately after takeoff.
Local residents described scenes of horror as they arrived at the crash site. “When we reached the spot, there were several bodies lying around and firefighters were dousing the flames,” said resident Poonam Patni.
This crash marks the first ever fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Boeing has pledged its full cooperation in the investigation, while both UK and US air accident teams are being deployed to support Indian authorities.
In response to the tragedy, Tata Group — owners of Air India — announced financial assistance of 10 million rupees (approximately $117,000) to the families of each victim, along with full medical coverage for the injured.
While investigations are ongoing, aviation experts suggest a rare double engine failure — possibly caused by a bird strike — could be to blame. “The aircraft is designed to fly on one engine. A simultaneous failure of both engines is exceptionally rare,” said Jason Knight, senior lecturer at the University of Portsmouth.
India’s aviation sector has seen explosive growth in recent years, becoming the world’s fourth-largest air market, with projections to reach third place within a decade. However, Thursday’s tragedy adds to the country’s history of deadly air disasters, including the 1996 New Delhi mid-air collision and the 2010 Mangalore crash.
AFP
