A tragic accident unfolded this morning in Ahmedabad, western India, when an Air India flight heading to London crashed. Just moments after take-off, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 people on board lost altitude. The aircraft crashed into a neighbourhood not far from the Ahmedabad airport. The impact was devastating, as the aircraft collided directly with a building used to house medical staff.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene where part of the plane had slammed into the doctors’ hostel at B.J. Medical College. The police chief of Ahmedabad confirmed that 204 bodies have been recovered, but it’s still uncertain how many were passengers and how many were residents on the ground. Some locals are believed to be among the dead.
The crash left a trail of devastation. A woman, whose son lived in the building, said he survived by jumping from a second-floor window. Others weren’t so lucky. Around 50 to 60 medical students were taken to the hospital, and several remain in critical condition. Five students are still missing, according to India’s Medical Association.
The flight, AI171, had 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian on board. Air India has released helpline numbers for families, while the UK Foreign Office has done the same for British citizens seeking information.
According to reports, citing flight data, the aircraft was at an altitude of 625 feet when the last signal was received. This was shortly after takeoff. Experts reviewing available footage pointed to a potential issue with the plane’s wing flaps, suggesting they may not have been correctly positioned, though the exact cause is still unknown.
Reactions from around the world have been swift, as King Charles and leaders from Canada and Portugal also issued statements of support. King Charles shared that he was “desperately shocked” and offered sympathy to the families of those lost.
As rescue operations continue, Air India and Boeing say they are working closely to understand what led to the crash.
