 Early Times Report
New Delhi, June 12: In one of India’s worst aviation disasters, more than 200 people lost their lives on Thursday when an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Flight AI171, en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, was carrying 242 people—including 230 passengers and 12 crew members—when it went down in a densely populated area near B.J. Medical College in the city’s Meghani Nagar locality. The aircraft issued a Mayday distress call moments after takeoff, indicating a serious emergency before losing contact and crashing into residential buildings.
As of the latest official count, 204 bodies have been recovered, and 41 people—including residents and students on the ground—have been injured. The sole confirmed survivor is a 40-year-old British national of Indian origin, seated in 11A. Tragically, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the deceased.
The plane struck a building adjoining the dining hall of B.J. Medical College, where 60 to 80 students were present at the time. At least five students were killed, and several others were injured or trapped amid the flames. The aircraft’s tail section became lodged in the structure, complicating rescue efforts.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have launched a full-scale probe, with assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Initial assessments point to possible mechanical failure or loss of control, with investigators examining landing gear issues and navigational errors.
Air India’s parent company, the Tata Group, has announced Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of each deceased passenger, along with full coverage of medical expenses for the injured.
“This is a tragic day for our nation,” said Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Air India. “Our hearts go out to the families of the victims. We are doing everything in our power to support the affected.”
All operations at Ahmedabad airport were temporarily suspended following the crash. Emergency teams, fire brigades, and medical responders have been deployed on-site, working round the clock to aid survivors and retrieve remains.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu expressed deep sorrow and said he is personally overseeing the emergency response. “All aviation and disaster response agencies are on highest alert,” he said in a statement on X.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident "devastating," noting that many British nationals were aboard. “We are monitoring the situation closely, and our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this deeply distressing time,” he said.
According to Air India, those on board included:
169 Indian nationals
53 British nationals
7 Portuguese citizens
1 Canadian national
Aviation Milestone
This is the first-ever recorded crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a model widely considered one of the safest long-haul aircraft. The incident has reignited debates about airport proximity to residential zones and the efficiency of emergency infrastructure in urban aviation hubs.
The Aviation Safety Network confirmed this is the first fatal accident involving a Dreamliner since the aircraft entered service in 2011. |
