India Mourns as Air India Crash Claims 265 Lives in Ahmedabad
AHMEDABAD, INDIA In one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters, at least 265 people have been confirmed dead after an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad on Thursday, June 12. The ill-fated flight, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, ploughed into a densely populated residential area near the airport, igniting a fiery inferno and causing devastation both in the air and on the ground.
The jet was carrying 242 passengers and crew members when it crashed less than a minute after takeoff, barely 100 meters into the air, according to Indian aviation authorities. Rescue workers and emergency personnel, aided by sniffer dogs, have been scouring the wreckage, uncovering what officials say includes at least 24 bodies from the ground impact zone. The death toll is expected to rise as DNA testing continues.
A Tragedy Beyond Words
“This is a heartbreaking disaster,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during a visit to the crash site Friday morning. The residential neighborhood where the plane crashed is home to doctors and medical staff from a nearby hospital. The plane’s tail was found lodged in the upper floors of a staff hostel, while its nose crashed into a student canteen, witnesses reported.
The lone survivor identified by local media as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin is currently receiving medical treatment. “I have no idea how I exited the plane,” he reportedly told his brother. His survival is being described as nothing short of a miracle.
The flight manifest included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, one Canadian, and 12 crew members. Families are being asked to provide DNA samples for the identification of remains, as many victims were burned beyond recognition.
Grief, Shock, and Unanswered Questions
At an emergency center set up near the crash site, distraught relatives gathered in hopes of receiving news. One man, Ashfaque Nanabawa, tearfully recalled his cousin’s final phone call just before takeoff. “He called us and said, ‘I am in the plane and I have boarded safely and everything is okay.’ That was his last call.”
Another woman, visibly shaken, struggled to find the strength to tell her daughter that her husband had died in the crash. “I can’t break the news to her. Can someone else do that, please?” she asked in anguish.
First Dreamliner Crash Raises Alarm
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but experts have begun offering early assessments. Dr. Jason Knight, a senior lecturer in fluid mechanics at the University of Portsmouth, noted that the Boeing 787 is designed to fly even if one engine fails. “The most likely explanation for such a rapid crash is a dual engine failure possibly due to a bird strike,” he said.
If confirmed, this would be the first major crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its introduction. Boeing has issued a statement saying it is in contact with Air India and is ready to assist in the investigation.
Both the United Kingdom and the United States have sent aviation safety teams to collaborate with India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Air India and Tata Group Respond
In response to the disaster, the Tata Group owners of Air India have announced financial support of ₹10 million (approximately $117,000) to the families of each deceased passenger and crew member. Additional funds have also been pledged to cover medical costs for the injured and the affected residents of the crash site.
This tragic incident casts a shadow over India’s rapidly growing aviation sector, which has seen exponential growth in recent years. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently ranked India as the fourth-largest air market globally, with projections indicating it could become third-largest by the end of the decade.
A Grim Reminder
While Thursday’s tragedy has gripped the nation, it is not without precedent. India has experienced several fatal air disasters in the past, including the 1996 mid-air collision over New Delhi that killed nearly 350 people, and the 2010 crash of an Air India Express flight in Mangalore, which left 158 dead.
Despite modern aviation advancements, these incidents serve as grim reminders that safety cannot be compromised. More critically, it underlines the need for thorough pre-flight checks, strong regulatory oversight, and continued investment in air traffic safety particularly in high-density zones like Ahmedabad.
As investigations continue, the nation grieves. For now, families are left with memories, unanswered questions, and the difficult task of rebuilding their lives from the wreckage of a tragedy that has stunned the world.
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India Mourns as Air India Crash Claims 265 Lives in Ahmedabad