A London-bound Air India flight carrying 242 people crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad on Thursday, June 12, killing nearly everyone on board except for one survivor who is currently hospitalized.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Air India Flight 171, plunged into a densely populated residential area close to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport around midday. The aircraft struck buildings where doctors and their families were living.
Rescue teams and local residents described a chaotic scene, with flames, thick black smoke, and burning wreckage spread across the neighborhood.
Bodies were pulled from the wreckage by emergency workers, and charred remains were seen being loaded into ambulances. According to city police commissioner GS Malik, 204 bodies had been recovered as of Thursday evening. Medical teams treated several people on the ground who were hurt during the crash.
State health official Dhananjay Dwivedi confirmed to AFP that one person had survived the crash and was receiving medical treatment.
An AFP journalist at the site described the tail of the aircraft resting against the side of a damaged building, with the nose and front wheel reported to have struck a canteen where students were eating lunch.
A local doctor named Krishna, who helped in the rescue, said, “One half of the plane crashed into the residential building where doctors lived with their families. The nose and front wheel landed on the canteen building where students were having lunch.”
He also added, “About 15 to 20 burnt bodies” were seen, and he and colleagues managed to save approximately 15 students.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation reported that the aircraft issued a mayday call shortly after takeoff before crashing. Air India confirmed the flight was headed to London’s Gatwick Airport and was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British passengers, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident heartbreaking, stating, “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the scene as “devastating,” and King Charles III said he was “desperately shocked.”
The crash site is near the Ghoda Camp neighborhood, located between a hospital and several apartment blocks. Local resident Poonam Patni told reporters, “When we reached the spot there were several bodies lying around and firefighters were dousing the flames. Many of the bodies were burned.”
The airport has been shut down until further notice, according to officials. Boeing released a statement noting it is in contact with Air India and is prepared to provide support during the investigation. This incident marks the first known crash involving a 787 Dreamliner, according to a source close to the case.
Air accident investigation teams from the UK and the US are on their way to assist Indian officials.
Air India’s parent company, Tata Group, has promised compensation of 10 million rupees (approximately $117,000) for each victim’s family, in addition to covering medical expenses for the injured.
Though the cause of the crash has not been officially determined, aviation experts have suggested the possibility of a double engine failure, with bird strikes being a potential factor.
Jason Knight, a senior lecturer in fluid mechanics at the University of Portsmouth, said, “The aircraft is designed to be able to fly on one engine, so the most likely cause of the crash is a double engine failure. The most likely cause of a double engine failure is a bird strike.”
India has experienced several deadly aviation disasters in the past, but the nation’s airline industry has grown rapidly in recent years. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) notes that India is now the world’s fourth-largest air market and is expected to climb to third place within the next ten years.
