A tragic air disaster struck the Indian city of Ahmedabad on Thursday when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed just minutes after takeoff, killing over 200 people. The flight, which had been headed to London Gatwick Airport, went down roughly three and a half miles from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, crashing into the premises of a medical college during lunchtime.
City Police Commissioner G.S. Malik confirmed that 204 bodies had been recovered from the crash site. The aircraft had 242 people on board, including passengers and crew. The impact damaged a dining facility on the medical school’s campus, and at least five students were among the dead, according to college dean Minakshi Parikh.
The cause of the crash is still unknown. Video verified by The New York Times shows the aircraft descending at a steady angle before a large explosion lit up the skyline. The clip was captured from a rooftop about half a mile from the airport.
Rescue operations were ongoing as emergency responders battled flames and cleared debris from nearby homes. Footage revealed large sections of the aircraft, including the tail, lodged in damaged buildings.
According to Air India, those on board included 169 Indian citizens, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese passengers, and one Canadian. At least 41 people are being treated for injuries, with authorities confirming that the number includes both passengers and individuals on the ground.
The plane departed at 1:38 p.m., with its arrival at Gatwick scheduled for 6:25 p.m. The airport in Ahmedabad was temporarily shut down following the crash.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the event as “heartbreaking beyond words” and expressed his sympathy to all those affected.
Authorities are still working to determine the status of 38 people who were onboard but not yet accounted for. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson confirmed that some injured passengers had been transported to hospitals for treatment. Officials have requested that family members provide DNA samples to assist in identifying remains.
The Boeing Dreamliner involved in the incident has been under review for several years, though this marks the first fatal crash involving this model, according to Cirium, an aviation data company.
In response to the crash, the British government has opened a hotline for citizens in India and is coordinating with Indian officials to gather more information. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the crash “devastating” and is receiving regular updates on the incident.
Air India has faced scrutiny over safety in the past, most notably in 2020 when an Air India Express flight overran a runway in Kozhikode, killing 21 people. Investigations into the current crash are underway and could take months to reach a conclusion.
