A devastating air disaster has struck India, leaving over 200 people dead after an Air India flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad.
As investigators try to make sense of one of the worst aviation tragedies this year, here’s what we know so far.
The Crash
Air India Flight 171 took off from Ahmedabad Airport at 1:38 pm local time on Thursday, bound for London Gatwick. But tragedy struck less than a minute into the flight.
According to flight-tracking data from Flightradar, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner reached a height of just 625 feet before disappearing from radar.
Moments later, the aircraft slammed into the residential quarters of BJ Medical College where students were staying, just outside the airport.
Eyewitnesses described terrifying scenes of fire and destruction. Rescue teams have so far recovered at least 204 bodies, according to Reuters. That grim number may rise, as it reportedly includes both passengers on board and victims on the ground.
Disturbing images from the crash site show the aircraft’s tail embedded in the wreckage of a building, while both wings were torn from the fuselage.
One rescuer told reporters that at least 30 bodies were pulled from a building at the site of the crash.
Who Was On Board?
There were 242 people aboard, including passengers and crew. Air India confirmed that among them were 53 British nationals, 169 Indian nationals, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian.
Three British family members have been confirmed dead — Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa, and their four-year-old daughter Sara. Their deaths were announced by the Gloucester Muslim Community on Facebook.
Incredibly, there is at least one confirmed survivor. British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh managed to escape the wreckage and has since spoken publicly. “It all happened so quickly,” he told the Hindustan Times.
Vishwash described hearing a loud noise barely 30 seconds after takeoff before the aircraft went down. He suffered injuries to his chest, eyes, and feet but somehow walked away alive.
His family told Sky News that Vishwash had been on a call with his father moments before the crash. “I don’t know how I’m alive,” he reportedly told them.
Tragically, Vishwash’s brother was also believed to be on the flight, but his whereabouts remain unknown.
What Caused the Crash?
The cause of the disaster remains unclear. Aviation experts are poring over early clues, including video footage, eyewitness reports, and the plane’s black boxes, which record cockpit communications and technical data.
Early reports suggest the pilot made a distress “mayday” call before the crash, indicating they were aware of a problem. Aviation analysts speculate that a possible mechanical fault or catastrophic engine failure could be to blame — though modern aircraft like the Dreamliner are designed to stay airborne even if one engine fails.
Aviation analysts have noted that bird strikes, particularly during takeoff, have caused similar tragedies before, though no official theory has been confirmed.
Global Response
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the crash “heartbreaking beyond words,” while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the event as “devastating.”
Meanwhile, India’s Tata Group, owners of Air India, announced a compensation package of 10 million rupees (around $117,000) for the families of those killed.
Reporting sourced from Reuters, Sky News, Hindustan Times, and official statements.
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