Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, en route to London Gatwick.
The plane plunged into a residential area, striking a medical college hostel, killing over 290 people, including passengers, crew, and people on the ground, such as medical students.
This marks one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent history and the first crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
A British national, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, seated in 11A near an emergency exit, is the only confirmed survivor. He escaped by jumping out of the emergency door, sustaining injuries but reported to be stable.
Ramesh told Indian media he heard a loud noise 30 seconds after takeoff before the crash occurred.
His family confirmed his survival, though another relative, Ajay, was also on board, with his status unclear.
The crash site in Meghaninagar showed devastating scenes, with the plane’s tail lodged in a building and a massive fireball erupting.
Rescue operations continue, with 204–265 bodies recovered, per various reports, and up to 41 people receiving treatment.
The flight carried 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. Among the victims were former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and a Gloucester family—Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa, and their daughter Sara.Indian authorities, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, are coordinating relief efforts, with the Indian Army deploying 130 personnel.
The UK and US have offered investigative support.
One of the plane’s black boxes has been recovered, and India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is leading the probe into the cause, which remains unclear.
A mayday call was issued seconds before the crash, and the plane lost contact at 625 feet altitude.
Air India and Tata Group are providing support, including ₹1 crore (approx. $116,000) for victims’ families and relief flights for kins.
Source : myxyzonline
