A London-bound Air India flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing all 242 people on board, in what officials are calling a “tragic accident.”
The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was en route to London Gatwick when it went down just beyond the airport perimeter, says BSS and agencies.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the plane issued a mayday call before crashing into a densely populated residential area between Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and the Ghoda Camp neighbourhood.
An AFP journalist on the scene described emergency responders pulling charred wreckage from the crash site as flames and smoke rose from nearby buildings.
“Our office is near the building where the plane crashed. We saw people from the building jumping from the second and third floor to save themselves. The plane was in flames,” said one local resident.
Authorities confirmed that the aircraft was carrying 242 people, including two pilots and ten cabin crew. The passenger list included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.
Grief and Condolences Pour In
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the crash as “heartbreaking beyond words” and directed immediate rescue and relief operations. Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said all emergency response agencies had been mobilised to the site.
“All efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are rushed to the site,” he stated. The Ahmedabad airport has been temporarily shut, with all flights suspended until further notice.
Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran announced the activation of an emergency centre and a support team for families seeking information. “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event,” he said.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident “devastating” and extended his condolences to the families of British passengers on board.
A Tragic History Revisited
The crash adds to India’s troubled history with fatal air disasters. In 2010, an Air India Express flight crashed in Mangalore, killing 158. In 1985, an Air India Boeing 747 exploded off the Irish coast due to a bomb planted by militants, killing all 329 on board.
Despite such tragedies, India’s aviation sector has seen exponential growth. The country is now the world’s fourth-largest air market, projected to become the third-largest within the decade. Air India recently placed major aircraft orders, including 470 planes from Boeing and Airbus, to meet surging demand.
Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Extends Condolences
Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy in a message to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Professor Yunus reaffirmed Bangladesh’s solidarity with India during this time of mourning, offering support in any necessary capacity.