Officials Report that 241 People were Killed in the Air India Plane Crash Leaving One Survivor

Air India Flight AI171 Crash: 241 Dead, One Survivor Pulled from Wreckage

Authorities say an Air India plane crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport in western India killing 241 people and leaving one survivor. 

242 people and crew were on board the Boeing 787-8 plane that was headed to London Gatwick airport when it crashed into a medical college dorm outside the airport during lunch on Thursday in a residential area. 

241 confirmed deaths on board the aircraft were reported by Air India in a statement. 

Condolences and Immediate Response

Air India sends the families of the departed its sincerest condolences. The needs of everyone impacted their families and loved ones are now the sole focus of our efforts the airline posted on social media. 

One Survivor Identified

India’s Home Minister Amit Shah reported that at least one person had survived the collision. The Reuters news agency was informed by Vidhi Chaudhary, a senior police officer, that Vishwash Kumar Ramesh the survivor had escaped from an emergency exit. 

According to a quote from Police Commissioner GS Malik Ramesh was receiving medical attention at the hospital. 

Scene of the Crash

204 bodies had been found at the crash site, Malik had earlier told Reuters. Both passengers and those killed on the ground may be among the bodies found, he said. Video captured smoke rising from the scene of the collision. There were pieces of the planes body all over the building where it crashed according to local photos and videos. The plane’s tail became lodged atop the structure. 

Mayday Call Went Unanswered

The plane made a mayday call indicating an emergency but no one responded according to air traffic control at Ahmedabad’s airport according to Reuters. 

The aircraft was identified by the aviation tracking website Flightradar24 as a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a wide-body twin-engine aircraft that is among the most advanced passenger planes currently in operation.

Leaders React to the Tragedy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his shock and sadness over the tragedy saying he is from Gujarat the state where the crash happened. 

Modi wrote It is heartbreaking beyond words on X. My thoughts are with everyone who is impacted by this sad time.

Thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families said Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu who expressed his shock and sadness over the crash. 

All efforts are being made to ensure that medical aid and relief support are rushed to the site and rescue teams have been mobilized, he posted on X. 

International Assistance and Investigation

In a statement British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the crash site’s scenes as devastating. 

The Foreign Office in London said in a statement that the UK was assisting Indian authorities in establishing the facts of the crash as soon as possible and in providing assistance to those impacted. 

A multidisciplinary investigation team will be sent by the UK governments Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) to assist the Indian-led investigation into the crashes causes.

Read More :  PM Modi Visits Site of Ahmedabad Plane Crash, Meets Survivor in Hospital

A Rare Tragedy for the 787 Dreamliner

This was the first known crash of a Boeing 787 according to the Aviation Safety Network database.

Aviation analyst Alex Macheras told Al Jazeera that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has a history of safety. 

For 15 years the 787 has been in operation. It is one of Boeing’s most recent mid- to long-haul passenger aircraft in terms of the creation and launch of carbon-fibre aircraft, he stated. 

In fact the Boeing 787 Dreamliner has been in commercial service for 15 years worldwide and has never been involved in a crash, hull loss or fatal accident. 

Previous Air India Crash in 2020

In 2020 an aircraft from Air India Express, the low-cost division of the airline was involved in the last fatal plane crash in India. The plane overshot a runway at Kozhikode International Airport in southern India killing twenty-one people. 

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