NDTV, News18, New Delhi: An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed immediately after take-off from Ahmedabad airport this afternoon, in one of the worst ever aviation tragedies in India. There were 232 passengers and 10 crew on the flight which was headed to London.
None of them survived the crash, officials said.
The plane slammed into a hostel for doctors of a medical college, killing five students. Visuals from the crash site show debris had pierced through the wall of a dining hall of the hostel, with food still visible on some of the plates.
A video of the aircraft flying low and struggling to gain altitude shows the plane slamming the ground and exploding in a massive ball of fire at 1.38 pm. It was loaded with fuel since it was flying a long distance to London.
Shortly after take-off, the pilot sent out a mayday call. There was no response after that to repeated calls from the air traffic controller, say reports.
In the final moments, the catastrophic failure to achieve lift happened at a very low altitude of 825 feet. The aircraft was clearly unable to climb, aviation expert Sanjay Lazar told NDTV.
Flight No. AI 171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, had on board 169 Indians, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian and seven Portuguese nationals.
Visuals showed charred wreckage of the plane, thick smoke rising from the site and emergency personnel at work. Some videos also showed injured taken to hospitals.
At least two dozen ambulances arrived at the site and some have taken away injured people to hospital. The police have diverted traffic from the area.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said he is personally monitoring the situation and directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action.
"My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families," he said in a post on X.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in a statement said the aircraft piloted by captain Sumeet Sabharwal with 8,200 hours of experience and first officer Clive Kundar with 1,100 hours of experience made a mayday call just before the crash.
Air India has set up a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 to provide more information.
5 dead at medical students' hostel where the plane crashed
Five medical students died and many suffered injuries after Air India flight crashed into the hostel of the BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. This includes, four undergraduate students and a postgraduate resident.
An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 people on board -- 230 passengers, 10 crew members and 2 pilots -- crashed immediately after take-off from Ahmedabad airport.
The flight, headed to London, departed at 13:38 pm from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The failure to achieve lift happened at a very low altitude of 825 feet.
In pictures from the ground, plates with food left uneaten and glasses can be seen lying on the tables in the hostel canteen, indicating medical students were having lunch at the time of the crash. The picture also shows with people standing near the damaged wall of the hostel mess.
"We are deeply shocked about the news of AI plane crashing in Ahmedabad. News have become more gruesome after finding out that flight had crushed in BJMC, Hostel & many MBBS students have also been injured!!!! We are monitoring the situation closely & are ready for any help!" the FAIMA Doctors association said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
Nearly 40 doctors have been wounded and at least one is in a critical situation. Speaking to NDTV, Dr Shyam Govind, an eye witness from the BJ Medical College said, "I and my junior doctor have been injured. 30-40 undergraduate doctors also suffered injuries and one to two students are serious."
Ramila, the mother of one of the medical students who was present at the hostel at the time of the crash, said her son was on a lunch break. He jumped from the second floor of the building to save himself.
"My son had gone to the hostel during lunch break, and the plane crashed there. My son is safe, and I have spoken to him. He jumped from the second floor, so he suffered some injuries," Ramila, who reached the civil hospital in Ahmedabad, Gujarat said while speaking to the news agency ANI.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, issued a "Mayday" call to Air Traffic Control shortly before the plane lost contact. A Mayday call is an internationally recognised distress signal used primarily in aviation and maritime communication to indicate a life-threatening emergency.
Expressing sadness over Ahmedabad plane crash this afternoon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it is "heartbreaking" beyond words. He said he is in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected.
"The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected," PM Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
