Ahmedabad: An Air India flight en route to London tragically crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing more than 200 people in what is being described as the deadliest aviation disaster globally in over ten years.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 individuals, plummeted into a residential zone, striking the dining area of the B.J. Medical College hostel just beyond the airport perimeter during lunchtime. Emergency officials confirmed that at least 204 bodies had been recovered and 1 Survivor was rushed to hospital.
According to police chief G.S. Malik, rescue crews have retrieved the majority of victims and continue operations at the crash site. Gujarat state health secretary Dhananjay Dwivedi said families of victims have been asked to provide DNA samples for identification.
Footage from the scene showed the aircraft’s tail wedged atop the hostel building and debris scattered across the area. The crash reportedly killed numerous medical students who were in the dining area at the time.
Air India confirmed that the flight was carrying 217 adults, 11 children, and two infants. Of these, 169 were Indian nationals, alongside 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. The plane was bound for Gatwick Airport, near London.
The Dreamliner, one of the latest generation of passenger jets, had no prior fatal crashes since its commercial debut in 2011. The aircraft involved was first flown in 2013 and delivered to Air India in early 2014.
Shortly after departing from Ahmedabad Airport’s runway 23 at 1:39 p.m. local time, the aircraft issued a Mayday call before losing contact with air traffic control. Flight tracking service Flightradar24 noted the final signal was received moments after takeoff. Notably, experts reviewing video of the incident observed that the plane’s landing gear was still deployed—unusual for a plane already airborne.
Aviation safety consultant Anthony Brickhouse remarked that the aircraft’s posture resembled that of a landing approach rather than takeoff, suggesting possible mechanical or pilot issues.
Boeing acknowledged the incident and said it is working to collect further information. Shares in the company dropped nearly 7% in pre-market trading following the news. GE Aerospace, the engine manufacturer, is reportedly sending a team to India to analyze cockpit and engine data.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, deeply affected by the crash in his home state of Gujarat, expressed condolences on social media, calling the event “heartbreaking beyond words.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also shared his sorrow, saying the visuals from the crash site were “devastating.” King Charles expressed his shock and grief, adding that he and Queen Camilla were being kept informed.
The Indian government has ordered an immediate and full-scale rescue and support operation. Ahmedabad Airport, temporarily closed in the wake of the disaster, has since resumed partial operations. Gautam Adani, whose conglomerate operates the airport, said full support was being offered to families and authorities.
This incident marks the first major crash involving a Dreamliner and the most fatal air disaster in India since 2020, when an Air India Express flight overshot the runway in Kozhikode, killing 21 people. Air India, which was taken over by the Tata Group in 2022, recently merged with Vistara in 2024.
Investigations into Thursday’s crash are ongoing.
