AHMEDABAD: As many as 290 people were killed when an Air India plane bound for London with 242 people on board crashed minutes after taking off from the Ahmedabad city of India on Thursday.
According to reports, the dead included people on the ground as the aircraft – headed for Gatwick Airport, south of the British capital – crashed on to a medical college hostel during lunch hour.
Police told media that at least one passenger is known to have survived and the man told Indian media how he had heard a loud noise shortly after take-off.
Vidhi Chaudhary, a top state police officer, told Reuters that approximately 294 have died. This includes some students as the plane crashed on the building where they were staying.
Similarly, City police chief G.S. Malik told Reuters that 204 bodies had been recovered from the crash site.
Police chief Malik said the bodies recovered could include both passengers and people killed on the ground. Federal minister C.R. Patil said the dead included Vijay Rupani, the former chief minister of Gujarat state, of which Ahmedabad is the main city.
Relatives had been asked to give DNA samples to identify the dead, state health secretary Dhananjay Dwivedi told reporters.
Parts of the plane’s body were scattered around the building into which it crashed. The tail of the plane was stuck on top of the building.
India’s CNN News-18 TV channels said the plane crashed on top of the dining area of state-run B.J. Medical College hostel, killing many medical students as well.
The passengers included 217 adults, 11 children and two infants, a source told Reuters. Of them, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, Air India said.
Aviation tracking site Flightradar24 said the plane was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, one of the most modern passenger aircraft in service.
It was the first crash for the Dreamliner, which began flying commercially in 2011, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. The plane that crashed on Thursday flew for the first time in 2013 and was delivered to Air India in January 2014, Flightradar24 said.
Aviation tracking site Flightradar24 said the plane was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, one of the most modern passenger aircraft in service.
It was the first crash for the Dreamliner, which began flying commercially in 2011, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. The plane that crashed on Thursday flew for the first time in 2013 and was delivered to Air India in January 2014, Flightradar24 said.
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Pakistan react to Air India crash in Ahmedabad
Reacting to the plane crash indecent, Prime Minister Shehbaz said: “Saddened by the tragic crash of Air India flight near Ahmedabad today.”
He added: We extend our condolences to the families of the victims grieving this immense loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.”
Expressing his grief over the tragic incident, Federal Minister for Defence Khwaja Asif said: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic crash of #AirIndia Flight AI171 near Ahmedabad today.”
Taking to his X handle, the security czar said: “Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families and loved ones of all aboard. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.”
PPP Chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said: “Saddened to hear a tragic incident occurred earlier today.”
“Where an Air India flight with approximately 240 passengers crashed shortly after takeoff near Ahmedabad, India. I express my profound condolences to the people of India,” he added.
