An Air India aircraft with 242 passengers onboard crashed near the Meghaninagar area in Gujarat's Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon. The accident took place while the flight was taking off for London.
In addition, five medical students — four undergraduates and one postgraduate — died and several others were injured after an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into the BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad shortly after take-off. The London-bound flight, carrying 242 people, took off at 1:39 pm but failed to gain lift at just 825 feet. The crash occurred during lunchtime, with visuals showing abandoned food plates in the hostel canteen near the damaged site.
Fire tenders were rushed to the spot and emergency response teams have been mobilised. The cause of the crash is still unknown.
According to information, there were seven children, 52 British and one Portugese national among the passengers onboard, apart from two pilots and 10 cabin crew. The aircraft was under the command of Capt Sumeet Sabharwal with First Officer Clive Kunder. Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani was also on board.
The aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1:39 pm from runway 23. It crashed in just five minutes after take-off, according to details shared by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has reportedly rushed to Ahmedabad from Surat to assess the situation.
According to a news report, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to the Gujarat Chief Minister, Home Minister and the Police Commissioner regarding the crash. He also assured central government assistance.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has reportedly rushed to Ahmedabad from Surat to assess the situation.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu took to X and wrote, "Shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad."
"We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action. Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site. My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families," he said.
Air India chairman N Chandrasekaran shared condolences for the people affected by the tragic 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," he said.
Chandrasekaran further informed that an emergency centre has been activated and support team have been set up for families seeking information.
Lone survivor
Within hours of their "no survivor" statement, the Ahmedabad police confirmed that they have found one person who survived the Ahmedabad crash. In a cellphone video that is being circulated online, the passenger, who was on seat 11A, was seen walking around - his white tee shirt and dark trousers barely smudged. The video shows the man walking with a limp, indicating a leg injury. His clothes bear blood stains and smudges of soot. "The police found one survivor in seat 11A," Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik was quoted as saying.
The survivor is 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British-Indian who was returning to the UK after a visit. Reports said he had taken the flight along with his brother, whom he is trying to find.
Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani dies
Former Chief Minister of Gujarat, BJP's Vijay Rupani was among the passengers killed in the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which crashed shortly after take-off from the Ahmedabad airport. According to the seat chart, Vijay Rupani, 68, was on seat 2D of the flight. He was on his way to London to meet his daughter.
Also Read: Ahmedabad plane crash: 5 dead at medical students' hostel
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