AHMEDABAD: In one of the deadliest aviation disasters in a decade, an Air India flight bound for London’s Gatwick airport crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing more than 200 people.
The plane, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 people on board, crashed into a densely populated area just outside the city, hitting directly into the doctors’ hostel of the BJ Medical College at lunchtime. Eyewitnesses described scenes of a deafening explosion and destruction as parts of the plane’s fuselage were strewn across the residential campus.
City police chief G.S. Malik confirmed that 204 bodies had been recovered so far. While rescue efforts continued till evening, officials said there were no signs of survivors. It was not clear how many victims were on the ground at the time of the crash.
A senior police official said the building where the plane crashed is a doctors’ hostel. “About 70-80 per cent of the area has been cleared. The rest will be cleared soon.” Videos from the site showed the tail of the plane hovering over the damaged structure and debris strewn across the area.
Initial reports suggest that the accident occurred a few minutes after take-off, with no distress signal from the crew. Air India said the passenger list included 217 adults, 11 children and two infants. They included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian national.
State Health Secretary Dhananjay Dwivedi said authorities were collecting DNA samples from relatives to help identify the victims. Hospitals in the area have been alerted, and psychological support is being provided to the affected families.
Tragically, several medical students also lost their lives in the accident, as the plane reportedly crashed into the dining hall of a college hostel.
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, known for its innovative design and safety features. This is the first fatal accident involving the Dreamliner since its commercial launch in 2011. According to aviation records, the aircraft entered service with Air India in January 2014.
The cause of the accident is not known and a full investigation has been launched by Indian aviation authorities. International aviation safety experts are expected to assist in the investigation.
