Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
Photo : PTI
In a tragic accident, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport this afternoon. The flight, AI 171, was heading to London Gatwick with 242 people on board—232 passengers and 10 crew members.
Sadly, 241 people lost their lives, making this one of the worst aviation disasters in India. The only survivor was a man named Ramesh Vishwakarma, who was seated in 11A, a window seat in the first row of the economy section, near the front of the aircraft. Officials say he managed to escape by jumping from the aircraft.
A plane crashed into the hostel building.
The aircraft crashed into a doctors' hostel near a medical college. The impact was so strong that parts of the plane broke through the dining hall walls, where food was still on plates. Five students living in the hostel were also killed in the crash.
Video Shows Plane Flying Low
A video shared online shows the aircraft flying very low and struggling to gain height before crashing at 1:38 PM and exploding into a huge fireball. Since it was a long-haul flight to London, the plane was fully loaded with fuel, which made the fire even worse.
Mayday Call Before Crash
Just after takeoff, the pilot made a mayday call, indicating serious trouble. However, after that call, there were no further responses to the Air Traffic Control (ATC). Experts say the aircraft could not rise above 825 feet, a very low altitude for a plane to be in such distress.
Aviation expert Sanjay Lazar explained that there was a catastrophic failure that didn’t allow the plane to gain proper lift-off.
Passengers from Different Countries
Of the 232 passengers:
169 were Indians.
53 were British nationals.
7 Portuguese
1 Canadian
Emergency Services Rushed to the Spot
Visuals from the site show the plane’s wreckage burning, smoke rising, and rescue teams trying to help the injured. Over two dozen ambulances arrived quickly, and injured people were taken to nearby hospitals. Police blocked roads around the area to assist rescue efforts.
Civil Aviation Minister Monitoring Situation
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said he is personally monitoring the situation. He has asked all aviation and emergency agencies to act quickly and in coordination.
“My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families,” he posted on X.
The DGCA said that the aircraft was being flown by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had 8,200 flying hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 flying hours. Both were experienced pilots and had issued a mayday call just before the crash.
Global Condolences
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted that the tragedy is “heartbreaking beyond words.” He said he is in contact with ministers and authorities helping those affected.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed deep sorrow, especially for the young medical students who died on the ground. He said Sri Lanka stands with India during this painful time.
The UK Foreign Ministry and Prime Minister Keir Starmer also shared their condolences. Starmer said he is being updated regularly, and his thoughts are with the families of the victims.
King Charles of the UK also shared his grief.
“My wife and I have been desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad,” he said, adding that their prayers are with the families of those affected.
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