Tragically, only one passenger has survived after a plane heading for Gatwick Airport crashed shortly after take-off in India.
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The Air India aircraft, which took off from Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat state, was carrying over 240 individuals.
Here is what we know so far about this devastating incident.
What Happened?
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed in a residential area known as Meghani Nagar shortly after taking off, as confirmed by Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the Directorate of Civil Aviation.
A video circulating online depicted the aircraft flying over a residential neighborhood before it vanished behind trees, followed by a massive explosion and billowing clouds of black smoke. As Kidwai noted, “It was a horrifying sight.”
Images from the scene depicted debris from the aircraft embedded into B.J Medical College, where firefighters worked tirelessly to suppress the smoke. Fragments of the plane’s landing gear, fuselage, and tail were clearly visible protruding from the building.
Who Was On Board?
The flight had 230 passengers and 12 crew members, as reported by Air India. Of the passengers, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were British, one was Canadian, and seven were Portuguese.
How Many Casualties Have There Been?
Police have reported a death toll of 260, including individuals on the ground as a result of the crash. Initially, it appeared that everyone on board had perished, but one British man, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, emerged as the sole survivor. Air India confirmed that 241 out of 242 people on board did not survive.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, recounted his experience: “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.”
Divyansh Singh, vice president of the Federation of All India Medical Association, indicated that at least five medical students were among those killed, with approximately 50 others injured in the collision with the college.
Witness Accounts
Witnesses have painted a vivid picture of the chaos that unfolded. A nearby resident described seeing “many bodies lying on the ground” after the crash. During an interview aired on BBC News, he recounted, “I was sitting at home when I heard a loud noise; it felt like an earthquake. I came outside to see smoke and didn’t realize it was a plane crash until I arrived at the site.”
What Caused the Crash?
The precise cause of the crash is still under investigation. However, a former pilot suggested that it might have resulted from a bird strike. Saurabh Bhatnagar mentioned during a segment on New Delhi Television that “it looks, prima facie, like a case of multiple bird hits wherein both engines have lost power.” Bird strikes can lead to significant power loss if a flock of birds enters an aircraft engine during take-off or landing.
Weather conditions at the time of the accident appeared to be favorable, with Paul Williams, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading, stating, “It was a dry and sunny day in Ahmedabad with good visibility, and no adverse weather conditions were reported. At this stage, there is no indication that turbulence contributed to the crash.”
As we continue to follow this tragic story, our thoughts are with those affected by this unimaginable event.
