At least 204 people have died in the Air India plane crash that took place in Ahmedabad today. According to the police, the chances of survival of those under treatment are very low. Rescue teams from the Indian Army, NDRF, CRPF and Coast Guards are working at the site.
The flight bound for London with 242 people on board crashed near Ahmedabad airport during take-off. The crash occurred as the aircraft was lifting off, according to early reports. Emergency services are at the scene.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was engulfed in a fireball after it crashed into the Meghaninagar residential area just minutes after taking off at 1.38 pm.
Earlier, Ahmedabad police commissioner Gyanendra Singh Malik said: “It appears there are no survivors in the plane crash,” adding that “some locals would have also died”. The crash site included a hostel for doctors and medical students.
The aircraft struck the dining hall of the state-run BJ Medical College hostel, killing several students. More than 100 bodies have been taken to the local government hospital for autopsy, police said.
Tata Group will provide Rs 1 crore to the families of each person who has lost their lives in the accident.
A video showed the aircraft flying low over residential buildings before crashing in what appeared to be a massive explosion.
Footage of the aftermath showed thick smoke rising over the neighbourhood, firefighters working in charred streets, and injured people being carried away on stretchers. Wreckage, including parts of the landing gear, fuselage and tail, could be seen protruding from a damaged building.
According to air traffic control at Ahmedabad airport, the aircraft departed from runway 23 at 1.39 pm and issued a Mayday call shortly afterwards. No further communication was received from the flight deck.
The Gatwick-bound flight, numbered AI171, was carrying 242 people – including two pilots, 10 cabin crew, 217 adults, 11 children and two infants. Air India said the passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens and one Canadian.
India’s civil aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, said rescue teams had been deployed and that every effort was being made to ensure medical aid and relief at the site.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror. “When we reached the spot, there were several bodies lying around and firefighters were dousing the flames. Many of the bodies were badly burned,” said local resident Poonam Patni.
Another resident said: “We saw people jumping from the second and third floors to escape. The plane was on fire. We helped get people out of the building and sent the injured to hospital.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement: “The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating.”
The flight was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a senior line training captain with over 8,200 hours of flying experience. First Officer Clive Kundar, who had about 1,100 hours of flight time, was co-pilot.
Officials at the site reported dense black smoke, which hindered visibility and delayed immediate rescue efforts. Emergency responders from the airport were the first to arrive. A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is en route. Rescue operations are still ongoing, and the exact number of casualties or survivors is yet to be confirmed.