London-bound Air India flight with 242 onboard crashes into residential area minutes after takeoff
A major tragedy unfolded in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon when an Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff, carrying 242 people onboard. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI171), which departed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 PM, plummeted into the Meghaninagar area, a densely populated neighbourhood near the airport, triggering a massive fire and panic, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Amid devastation, one miraculous survivor emerges as rescue operations continue.
Air India confirmed the aircraft had 232 passengers and 10 crew members. Among them were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, and one Canadian passenger. The crash site included the hostel and residential blocks of BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital, adding to the complexity of rescue operations.
While early reports feared the worst, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik announced a glimmer of hope: “The police found one survivor in seat 11A. He has been admitted to the hospital and is receiving treatment. We can’t confirm the final death toll yet,” he told ANI.
The lone survivor has been identified as Ramesh Vishwakumar, according to flight data.
Rescue teams continue to search the wreckage for signs of life as families await updates. Emergency crews, including firefighters, police, and medical responders, are working around the clock to assess damage and provide relief.
