Ahmedabad: A catastrophic air disaster struck Gujarat on Thursday when Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (VT-ANB), crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, killing at least 265 people. The aircraft, bound for London Gatwick Airport (LGW), was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members when it went down around 1:39 pm local time.
Air India has confirmed that 241 people onboard perished in the crash. The aircraft struck the mess area of a medical college hostel, causing additional casualties on the ground. According to Ahmedabad police officials, 265 bodies, including those of several medical students, were recovered and transported to the city’s civil hospital by Thursday night.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reported that the pilots issued a distress “MAYDAY” call to Air Traffic Control (ATC) moments after takeoff, indicating an emergency. Tragically, communication with the aircraft was lost shortly thereafter.
Initial statements from Ahmedabad Police Chief GS Malik suggested no survivors. However, in a rare and miraculous turn, 40-year-old Ramesh Vishwashkumar was confirmed to be the lone survivor. He is currently being treated in a local hospital and visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.
Among the confirmed victims was Vijay Rupani, former Chief Minister of Gujarat (2016–2021), who was reportedly flying to London to visit family. The passenger manifest included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian.
Authorities have collected more than 200 DNA samples to aid in identifying the deceased. Several bodies have already been positively identified and handed over to grieving families.
Prime Minister Modi expressed profound sorrow, calling the crash “heartbreaking beyond words.” He has pledged full government support to the victims’ families and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the cause of the tragedy.
Rescue and relief operations continue at the crash site, as aviation authorities and emergency teams work around the clock to determine what went wrong in one of India’s worst aviation disasters in recent history.
