More than 290 people have been killed after a London-bound Air India flight crashed in a residential area in the city of Ahmedabad.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was carrying 242 people when it crashed minutes after taking off at 1.38pm local time from Ahmedabad, the main city in the north-western Indian state of Gujarat.
The plane is said to have struck the top of the dining area of the state-run BJ Medical College hostel, killing many students.
Vidhi Chaudhary, a police officer, disclosed, “Approximately 294 have died. This includes some students as the plane crashed on the building where they were staying.” She added, “Most of the bodies have been charred beyond recognition.”
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British-Indian from London, is believed to be the sole survivor. He described seeing bodies all around him after the plane smashed into a hostel housing medical students, doctors and their families in the Meghaninagar residential area.
According to air traffic control at Ahmedabad airport, the aircraft departed at 1.39pm (9.09am BST) from runway 23. It issued a mayday call after which nothing more was heard from the flight deck.
The 242 people onboard the Gatwick-bound flight included two pilots and 10 cabin crew. The passengers included 217 adults, 11 children and two infants. Of them, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, Air India said.
The crash site is approximately 1.7km (about one mile) from the airport.
The cause of the crash has yet to be determined, but according to its data, the aircraft was reportedly carrying a substantial fuel load for a long-haul flight to London.
Air India’s Chair, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, described the crash as a “tragic accident.”
Chandrasekaran said that a support team had been set up for families seeking information.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event. At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families.
“We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted.”
Natarajan Chandrasekaran
World leaders reacted to the tragic incident. A few of them include UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio and Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.
Guterres stated that he was deeply saddened by the terrible news of the plane crash. He also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of all affected.
Rubio said that he was “heartbroken” to hear the news of the tragic plane crash. “My prayers are with all who lost their loved ones in this horrible incident,” he added.
Air India Owners Offer Financial Help To Families Who Lost Relatives On Flight
Tata Group Chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran stated that the company will provide 10 million Indian rupees ($117,000) to the families of each person who was killed in the Air India crash.
Chandrasekaran said in a post on social media that the company will also cover medical expenses of those injured.
“We are deeply anguished by the tragic event involving Air India Flight 171. No words can adequately express the grief we feel at this moment. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones, and with those who have been injured.”
Natarajan Chandrasekaran
The company said that it would also cover the medical costs of those injured and provide support in the “building up” of the medical college the plane crashed into.
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