Indian plane crash: Over 200 including Ex-Gujarat CM Dead
India: Over 200 people including passengers, pilots and crews have been killed as a devastating tragedy unfolded on Thursday with an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London crashed just minutes after take-off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
The deceased included former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani while a Briton is reported to have survived fortunately.
The aircraft, flight number AI 171, was carrying 242 individuals, including passengers and crew, when it went down in a densely populated residential area.
According to Ahmedabad police, 204 bodies have been recovered from the crash site so far.
Meanwhile, the authorities are working to determine how many of the victims were on the aircraft versus residents on the ground.
The plane reportedly collided with a housing complex used by medical professionals, injuring dozens and setting off massive fires.
One Survivor Identified
In a miraculous turn, one survivor has been confirmed: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, who was seated in 11A.
Speaking to reporters, Ramesh recounted the moments leading up to the crash: “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.”
He was rescued by local residents, limping away from the wreckage.
Passengers and Victims
Air India confirmed that the passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. The victims included former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, whose death was confirmed by BJP Gujarat President C.R. Patil.
The aircraft crashed into a residential complex used by medical students and healthcare staff. At least 50 students are currently hospitalized due to injuries sustained in the disaster. One mother described how her son survived by leaping from a second-story window as flames engulfed the building.
Government Response and Compensation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed on the situation and ordered comprehensive rescue and relief operations.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and Home Minister Amit Shah have reached Ahmedabad to oversee the ongoing efforts.
Tata Group, which owns Air India, has announced an ex gratia payment of ₹1 crore (approx. £86,000) to the families of each deceased passenger.
Meanwhile, Air India has arranged relief flights and set up emergency helplines to assist affected families. Contact numbers issued include:
- Ministry of Civil Aviation: 011-24610843, 9650391859
- Air India Passenger Hotline: 1800 5691 444
- Ahmedabad City Police: 079-25620359
Crash Investigation Underway
Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
Preliminary eyewitness videos and accounts suggest the aircraft struggled to gain altitude and crashed within five minutes of departure.
Aviation experts suspect a catastrophic technical failure, though no official cause has been confirmed.
This incident marks one of the deadliest air disasters in India in recent years and has sent shockwaves across the country and abroad, particularly among the Indian diaspora.
