Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crashes in Ahmedabad Killing 241

An Air India plane, en route to London, crashed in a residential area of Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of 241 people on board. The sole survivor was a passenger who was ejected from the aircraft. The plane hit a college hostel, killing at least five medical students and injuring 50 others, some critically. The impact caused a massive fire, charring most of the bodies beyond recognition. The survivor, identified as Vishwashkumar Ramesh, was found disoriented with multiple injuries but is reported to be out of immediate danger. Ramesh recounted that the plane began descending shortly after takeoff and split in two, throwing him out before a loud explosion.

Black smoke billowed from the crash site near the airport in Ahmedabad, a city of over 5 million people. Firefighters worked to extinguish the flames and clear debris, with the Indian army assisting in the rescue efforts. The tail cone of the aircraft was found lodged near the top of one of the buildings, and it is feared that others may be buried in the debris. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, describing the crash as "heartbreaking beyond words." Among the deceased was Gujarat’s former chief minister, Vijay Rupani.

Air India confirmed that 229 passengers and 12 crew members were killed in the crash. The only survivor was a British national of Indian origin. The flight, bound for London Gatwick Airport, carried 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian passenger. The airline stated that its focus is now on supporting the affected families and loved ones. This incident marks the first crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Boeing has expressed its commitment to gathering more information about the crash.

India’s aviation regulatory body reported that the aircraft made a mayday call, signaling an emergency, but did not respond to subsequent calls from airport traffic control. Aviation consultant John M. Cox noted that the initial images of the crash suggested the aircraft had its nose up and was not climbing, which investigators will examine closely. The Boeing 787, introduced in 2009, has been delivered to dozens of airlines worldwide. The flight data recorder, which contains extensive flight data monitoring parameters, will be crucial in determining the cause of the crash.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other officials expressed their condolences and offered support to the families of the victims. The UK government is in constant contact with Indian authorities and has encouraged loved ones of passengers to reach out to the foreign office for assistance. King Charles III and Queen Camilla also extended their sympathies, describing the incident as "appallingly tragic."

This crash is the latest in a series of air disasters in India. The last major passenger plane crash occurred in 2020 when an Air India Express Boeing-737 skidded off a runway in southern India, killing 21 people. The worst air disaster in India happened in 1996 when a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight collided midair with a Kazakhstan Airlines Flight, resulting in the deaths of all 349 people on board the two planes. Boeing has been in recovery mode since 2018 and 2019, when two Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft crashed, killing a total of 346 people.