At least 265 people lost their lives in a tragic plane crash involving an Air India flight bound for London on Thursday. The accident took place shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, where the Boeing 787 Dreamliner struck a medical college complex and erupted into flames less than a minute into the flight. Among the deceased was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, confirmed by BJP leader CR Paatil.
The crash resulted in the highest number of fatalities in a recent air disaster in India, including several individuals on the ground. Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanan Desai reported that 265 bodies had been transported to the civil hospital. Many victims were charred beyond recognition due to the intensity of the fire. The debris also impacted a dining hall at a hostel, killing four MBBS students and the wife of a doctor.
Of the 230 passengers on board, 169 were from India, 53 from the UK, seven from Portugal, and one from Canada. The flight had 12 crew members. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, seated in 11A, was the sole survivor, seen walking around shortly after the crash. He has since been admitted to the trauma ward of a local hospital and was traveling to London with his brother.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah pointed out that the aircraft was carrying approximately 1.25 lakh litres of fuel, which rendered rescue efforts virtually impossible. Authorities are expected to formally confirm the death toll following DNA tests and identification of the victims.
Rescuers faced significant challenges retrieving survivors from the wreckage, as many had sustained severe burns. Preliminary reports indicated that shortly after takeoff at 1:39 PM, the pilot issued a “Mayday” distress call indicating a full emergency. Efforts were underway to locate the flight’s black box, which contains vital data and recordings that may shed light on the events leading up to the disaster.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as devastating, with the aircraft rapidly losing altitude and engulfed in flames that damaged nearby buildings and vehicles. One image captured the plane crashing through a hostel’s top floor, presumably a dining area for nurses and doctors.
The aircraft, which had taken off at 1:39 PM from Runway 23, was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar. Sabharwal had accumulated 8,200 flying hours, while Kundar had 1,100 hours of experience, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
This incident marks the second major air disaster in Ahmedabad, the first occurring on October 19, 1988, when an Indian Airlines flight crashed during its final approach to the airport, resulting in 130 fatalities. The tragedy also claimed the lives of two female cabin crew members from Manipur, identified as Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam, 22, and Lamnunthem Singson, 28.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/06/13/265-perish-in-indias-worst-air-crash/
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Publish Date: 2025-06-13 01:31:00
