AHMEDABAD, India — In what is being described as the world’s worst aviation disaster in over a decade, more than 290 people were killed on Thursday when an Air India flight bound for London crashed just minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad.
The ill-fated aircraft, carrying 242 passengers and crew members, was en route to Gatwick Airport near London when it went down, slamming into a medical college hostel during lunchtime. The crash killed not only passengers but also several students and staff on the ground.
“Approximately 294 have died. This includes some students as the plane crashed on the building where they were staying,” said Vidhi Chaudhary, a senior police official in Gujarat. The crash site was described as catastrophic, with emergency crews working through debris and fire to search for survivors.
Remarkably, at least one passenger survived. Identified as Ramesh Viswashkumar, the 40-year-old man told Indian media that he was seated in 11A, near an emergency exit. “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed,” he recalled. His boarding pass was verified by local media.
Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into the cause of the crash. Air India, in a brief statement, expressed deep condolences and confirmed cooperation with aviation safety officials.
This deadly incident has sent shockwaves across the aviation industry and prompted an outpouring of grief both in India and abroad, especially from families awaiting the flight’s arrival in London.
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