In what’s being called one of the most devastating air tragedies in recent times, at least 265 people lost their lives when an Air India flight crashed minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating as Flight AI171 to London Gatwick, struck a medical college hostel in the Meghaninagar area shortly after takeoff, triggering a massive explosion and fire. The blaze left only one survivor among the 242 people on board. The impact and ensuing inferno also caused multiple casualties on the ground, as the crash occurred during the hostel’s lunchtime peak.
Emergency responders described an apocalyptic scene, with fire temperatures soaring to nearly 1,000°C due to the ignition of over 1.25 lakh litres of aviation fuel. Rescue operations involving the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and local fire brigades were underway within minutes. Forensic teams were dispatched to help with identification and recovery.
Among the deceased was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, officials confirmed. Of the 230 passengers, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were from the UK, seven Portuguese citizens were on board, and one Canadian. The 12-member crew also perished in the crash.
A single passenger, Vishwaskumar Ramesh, seated in 11A, miraculously survived the crash and is being treated at Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the city Friday morning to assess the wreckage and meet survivors and rescue workers. Describing the tragedy as “deeply shocking and heartbreaking,” he instructed Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu to lead support and relief efforts on-site.
Preliminary reports suggest the aircraft lost altitude rapidly moments after liftoff. Amateur video recorded by a local resident showed the plane failing to gain stable lift before crashing in a fiery explosion. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that a Mayday alert was issued just seconds before contact was lost. A full-scale investigation has been initiated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau under international aviation protocols laid out by the ICAO.
This marks the first major crash involving the Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft began commercial service in 2011. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg issued a formal statement expressing sorrow over the loss of life and pledged technical support to assist Indian investigators.
International responses quickly followed. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said British authorities were in close contact with their Indian counterparts, while U.S. President Donald Trump offered condolences and pledged American support, stating, “Anything we can do, we will do.”
Air India’s parent company, Tata Group, has announced ₹1 crore in compensation for each victim’s family, full medical expense coverage for the injured, and financial aid to help rebuild the damaged infrastructure of the medical college affected by the crash.
