AHMEDABAD — In what is being described as the world’s worst aviation disaster in a decade, an Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday, killing more than 200 people. Only one passenger is confirmed to have survived.
Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people, crashed into a residential area and struck the dining hall of the B.J. Medical College hostel, igniting a massive fireball. The flight had departed from Ahmedabad Airport at 1:39 pm local time, gave a Mayday signal, and then lost all communication with air traffic control.
Among the deceased were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, a Canadian, and all 12 crew members. Police have recovered 204 bodies, which include passengers and several medical students killed on the ground.
Miraculously, one survivor, identified as UK resident Ramesh Viswashkumar, was pulled from the wreckage. Speaking from his hospital bed, he recounted the moments of horror, saying, “When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran.”
Indian authorities confirmed that former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the victims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed full federal support for rescue and relief operations.
The plane was the first Dreamliner to crash since the model entered service in 2011. It had been delivered to Air India in 2014. Aviation authorities from the U.S., UK, and India have launched investigations, with the U.S. NTSB and UK AAIB sending teams to assist.
Air India’s parent company, Tata Group, announced ₹10 million (approx. \$117,000) compensation per deceased passenger, along with medical aid for the injured and support to rebuild the college hostel.
Ahmedabad Airport resumed partial operations late Thursday.
