Boeing 787 crashes after take-off in Ahmedabad, killing 241; only one British man survives.
A devastating tragedy has struck India after an Air India flight bound for London Gatwick crashed in Ahmedabad, killing 241 people. Miraculously, one British passenger walked away from the wreckage with minor injuries.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner burst into flames just moments after take-off from Ahmedabad, slamming into a medical college hostel during lunchtime. The crash turned the quiet neighbourhood into a scene of carnage as plumes of thick smoke filled the sky. Rescue teams worked tirelessly through the night, picking through twisted metal and rubble in search of survivors and crucial evidence.
Among the 242 people on board, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were British citizens, seven were from Portugal, and one was Canadian. Tragically, all but one perished. The sole survivor, 40-year-old Leicester resident Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, recounted his horrifying experience from seat 11A. “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly,” he told the Hindustan Times.
Local authorities confirmed that the crash not only claimed the lives of those on board but also caused fatalities on the ground. The exact number of ground casualties remains uncertain, though some local media outlets have reported as many as 24 deaths.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site on Friday morning, paying his respects to the victims and their families. Standing amid the charred wreckage and surrounded by rescue workers, Modi pledged full support for the investigation and offered condolences to grieving relatives. “This is a national tragedy. The loss is immeasurable,” he stated.
One of the aircraft’s two black boxes has been recovered from the crash site, according to Hindustan Times. The data it holds may provide critical insights into why the plane went down so catastrophically within moments of leaving the runway.
Police officials, still working at the scene, said: “We are verifying the number of dead, including those who were inside the building where the plane crashed.” Recovery operations continue as investigators piece together the final moments of Flight 171.
The British Foreign Office has issued emergency contact numbers for families seeking information. Relatives within India are urged to call Air India at 1800 5691 444, while families abroad should contact the Foreign Office at 020 7008 5000.
This disaster ranks as the world’s worst aviation accident in a decade and raises serious concerns about airline safety, particularly for long-haul international flights. The Dreamliner model involved has generally maintained a strong safety record, which makes this catastrophic failure even more alarming.
While the investigation remains in its early stages, aviation experts are speculating about potential causes ranging from catastrophic engine failure to bird strikes or structural issues. Authorities have not ruled anything out at this stage.
Rescue personnel continue to sift through the smouldering wreckage, searching for missing passengers and additional aircraft components that might help explain the cause of the crash. The search has been painstaking, with firefighters and medics working around the clock amid dangerously unstable debris.
As grieving families prepare for heartbreaking funerals and officials launch a full-scale inquiry, the international aviation community watches closely. The tragedy has not only shattered lives but has also sent shockwaves across the globe, leaving many to question how such a devastating failure could occur just seconds into flight.
