Air India Plane Crash Ahmedabad: 241 Killed,1 Survivor

Tragedy struck on Thursday afternoon as an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed just five minutes after takeoff, killing 241 out of the 242 people on board. The crash has sent shockwaves across the country, with former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani confirmed among the deceased.

The aircraft departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 PM and crashed into the B.J. Medical College hostel mess, located just 5 kilometers away. At the time of impact, over 100 students were gathered inside the mess for lunch. Eyewitnesses described a massive explosion followed by a towering plume of smoke visible across the city.

Air traffic control officials confirmed that the pilots issued a “Mayday” call shortly after takeoff, indicating a critical emergency. However, no further communication was received before the crash occurred.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the lone survivor, Vishwaskumar Ramesh, who had been seated in A11. Shah stated that rescue efforts were hindered by the massive fire caused by over 125,000 litres of aviation fuel igniting upon impact. “Due to the scale of the explosion and fire, no one else could be saved,” Shah said. Ramesh had been traveling with his brother, who perished in the tragedy.

Air India has initiated a formal investigation, and aviation safety agencies are expected to collaborate to determine the cause of the crash. Families of the victims have been offered support, and a helpline has been set up for relatives seeking information.

As India mourns one of its deadliest aviation disasters in recent memory, questions are being raised about aircraft safety and emergency response protocols. A national day of mourning has been declared by the central government.