Air India Dreamliner Crash Claims 265 Lives in Ahmedabad

A London-bound Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner tragically crashed into Ahmedabad’s BJ Medical College complex shortly after takeoff, killing 265 people, including passengers, crew, and individuals on the ground. The crash caused widespread devastation, injuring over 60 medical students and destroying infrastructure. Authorities are investigating the cause, with the black box yet to be recovered. Prime Minister Modi visited the site, expressing grief over India’s worst air disaster in recent years. One passenger miraculously survived.

At least 265 people lost their lives on Thursday when a London-bound Air India flight tragically crashed into a medical college complex in Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff. The aircraft burst into flames upon impact, making this one of India’s worst air disasters in recent years. The crash also claimed the lives of several individuals on the ground as the plane collided with buildings in the BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital compound.

The bodies of many victims were charred beyond recognition. The doomed Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI 171) was carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. "265 bodies have reached the city civil hospital as per the message we received," stated Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanan Desai.

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) revealed that at least five MBBS students, one postgraduate resident doctor, and the wife of a superspecialist from BJ Medical College were among the deceased. Over 60 medical students sustained injuries in the tragedy.

"As of now, at least five medical students, one PG resident doctor, and the wife of a superspecialist from BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad have been killed, and over 60 medical students have been injured," FAIMA National Vice President Dr. Divyansh Singh confirmed. "The bodies recovered were completely charred," he added.

The crash occurred less than a minute after the plane took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 PM. The aircraft, registered as VT-ANB, was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had 8,200 hours of flying experience, alongside First Officer Clive Kundar, with 1,100 flying hours.

Air India disclosed that among the 230 passengers, 169 were Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. The remaining 12 onboard were crew members.

This incident marks the first crash involving the Boeing Dreamliner, known for its advanced features. It is also India’s second major air disaster since 2020, when an Air India Express flight crashed in Kozhikode, claiming 21 lives.

Authorities are currently searching for the aircraft’s black box, including the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, to determine the cause of the crash. Rescue teams continued searching for survivors late into Thursday night. Unofficial reports suggest that as many as 25 people from the medical complex may have also perished.

Remarkably, one passenger, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, survived the crash. He was seated in 11A and was later spotted walking amidst the wreckage in television footage. "Ramesh was admitted to the trauma ward of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital," Dr. Shriq M told PTI. He was traveling to London with his brother.

The crash caused widespread devastation in the area, damaging multiple buildings, burning trees, and destroying vehicles. One harrowing image showed the aircraft’s nose piercing through the top floor of a dining area where many medical students were having lunch.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ahmedabad on Friday to inspect the crash site and meet the injured at the Civil Hospital. He expressed his condolences on Twitter: “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. I have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected.”

At InduQin, we are deeply saddened by the immense loss of life in this tragedy. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this devastating event.

In moments of such grief, words often fall short of expressing the pain and loss endured by the bereaved families. We stand in solidarity with them, offering our prayers, support, and strength during this difficult time.

We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to the emergency responders and all those working tirelessly to assist survivors and provide relief to those affected.

May the departed souls rest in peace, and may their loved ones find the strength to endure this profound sorrow. Let us unite as a community to offer comfort and support to all those in need.

Om Shanti.