Air India Plane Crashes in Ahmedabad. A terrible tragedy struck Ahmedabad on Thursday. An Air India flight crashed just minutes after take-off. It was heading to London with 242 people onboard. More than 200 people have died. Many others are injured.
The plane crashed into a residential area near the airport. It hit the doctors’ hostel at B.J. Medical College around lunchtime. This caused even more loss of life, as some students were inside the building.
No Survivors Found So Far
Authorities have recovered 204 bodies from the crash site. Officials say there are no known survivors. Rescue teams are still working to find more remains.
The crash killed passengers and people on the ground. Some of the victims were medical students having lunch in the hostel when the plane hit.
“My son was inside,” said Ramila, a local mother. “He jumped from the second floor and got injured. But he is alive. I have spoken to him.”
Another woman at the hospital, Poonam Patel, was crying. Her sister-in-law was on the flight. “We heard about the crash an hour later. We are still in shock,” she said.
Plane Crashed Just After Take-off
The flight took off from Ahmedabad Airport at 1:39 p.m. local time. It was supposed to go to London’s Gatwick Airport. Just seconds after take-off, air traffic control received a “Mayday” signal. Then contact was lost.
Moments later, flames and black smoke rose near the airport. A large explosion was seen. Videos posted online showed burning wreckage and debris scattered across the area.
Some experts pointed out strange details. One said the landing gear was still down during take-off, which is not normal. “It looked like it was trying to land, not take off,” said aviation expert Anthony Brickhouse.
Passengers From Around the World
There were 242 people on the plane. This included 217 adults, 11 children, and 2 infants. Most were Indian nationals — 169 in total. There were also 53 people from the UK, 7 from Portugal, and 1 from Canada.
Families rushed to local hospitals and airports to get news. Many were in tears, holding photos of their loved ones. Authorities have asked for DNA samples to help identify the victims.
First Dreamliner Crash
The crashed plane was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. It is one of the most modern aircraft in the world. This was the first fatal crash involving a Dreamliner. The plane began flying commercially in 2011. This one was delivered to Air India in 2014.
Air India said they are investigating the crash. They are working with Boeing and engine-maker GE Aerospace. A team is being sent to India to help gather flight data and analyze the black box.
Boeing’s stock dropped by nearly 7% after the news broke.
Leaders Respond with Shock and Support
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the crash was “heart-breaking beyond words.” He has ordered full support for rescue and relief efforts. Ahmedabad is in his home state, Gujarat.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also shared his sadness. He said the crash was “devastating.” King Charles released a statement saying he and Queen Camilla were “desperately shocked.”
The British government said they are working with Indian authorities to help affected families.
Airport Back in Operation
Ahmedabad Airport shut down briefly after the crash. It has since reopened, but only limited flights are operating. The airport is run by the Adani Group. Founder Gautam Adani said his team is helping authorities and families on the ground.
“We are deeply saddened,” he posted on social media.
India’s Worst Air Disaster in a Decade
This is the deadliest air crash in India in over 10 years. The last major crash happened in 2020. An Air India Express flight overshot the runway in Kerala and killed 21 people.
Air India, once run by the government, was taken over by the Tata Group in 2022. Earlier this year, it merged with Vistara, a joint venture with Singapore Airlines.
Families Left in Grief
As rescue teams continue their work, families wait in pain. Many are still hoping for a miracle. But most now face the hard reality of losing their loved ones.
India is mourning today. This is a tragedy the country won’t forget for a long time.