New Delhi: At least 274 individuals lost their lives in one of the most catastrophic plane crashes in India, involving an Air India flight bound for London, which occurred in Ahmedabad earlier this week, according to sources on Saturday.
The fatalities, as reported by the sources, comprise both the passengers and crew aboard AI 171, as well as local residents on the ground.
The aircraft carried 242 individuals – including 230 passengers, two pilots, and 10 crew members – when it crashed into a medical college shortly after departing for London Gatwick Airport from Ahmedabad on Thursday. Of those on board, only one person, an Indian-origin British national, survived the incident. Among the deceased was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
Sources indicate that the victims included 10 doctors and their family members who were residing in the BJ Medical College doctors’ quarters in the Meghaninagar area. Additionally, 24 MBBS students who sustained injuries in the crash are currently receiving medical treatment.
The black box of the aircraft has been recovered, and over 100 workers along with 40 engineers are actively involved in the operation to clear the wreckage from the site, as per the sources.
On Thursday, AI 171, part of the Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 fleet, crashed mere seconds after its takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Officials reported that the aircraft lost altitude shortly after departing at approximately 1:30 PM, crashing into the residential quarters of the medical college and igniting a fire that sent thick black smoke billowing into the sky.
The pilot issued a ‘Mayday’ distress signal, indicating a complete emergency, shortly after takeoff, according to the Air Traffic Control at Ahmedabad.
Aviation specialists noted that based on the available footage, a lack of thrust in both engines and a bird strike could be potential causes. Images from the crash site revealed bodies being retrieved and the injured, many suffering from burns, being transported to the nearby city civil hospital.
Numerous questions arise regarding the events that led to the tragic crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which first entered service in 2011. Some inquiries focus on what transpired in the final 30 seconds of the flight, the reasons behind the aircraft’s failure to gain thrust, and whether any issues occurred with the flaps or engine controls.
The aircraft’s black box was located on the rooftop of the medical college hostel building on Friday. Information retrieved from the black box will assist in distinguishing between technical and human errors, as well as providing a clear timeline of events.
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site to assess the situation. He also met with the sole survivor and the injured individuals at the hospital.
