An Air India flight en route to London tragically crashed into a residential area of Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing 241 passengers and crew, the airline confirmed. Remarkably, one man survived after being thrown from the aircraft during the explosion.
The plane, which took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, went down moments later, slamming into a college hostel and igniting a massive fireball. State police official Vidhi Chaudhary said several people on the ground were also killed, including medical students residing in the hostel.
“Most of the bodies are charred beyond recognition,” Chaudhary said, as emergency responders worked through the rubble.
Indian Home Minister Amit Shah visited the survivor in hospital and confirmed his identity as Vishwashkumar Ramesh. According to doctors, Ramesh suffered multiple injuries but is expected to recover.
“He was disoriented, with injuries all over his body,” said Dr. Dhaval Gameti, who examined the patient. “But he seems to be out of danger.”
A second medic said Ramesh recalled the plane rapidly descending after takeoff before splitting apart midair. He said he was ejected from the aircraft moments before a powerful explosion.
The crash sent thick black smoke into the sky, visible across Ahmedabad — a city of over 5 million and the capital of Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state. Video circulating on social media shows the jet descending abnormally low before disappearing behind rooftops, followed by a massive fireball.
Firefighters sprayed water over the burning wreckage and nearby buildings. Charred bodies and twisted metal were scattered across the crash zone, while Indian army teams assisted in clearing debris and providing medical aid.
Among the wreckage, the tail section of the aircraft, with damaged stabilizers still attached, was seen wedged near the top of a residential building.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash. The aircraft had been carrying a full load of fuel at the time of takeoff, and officials are expected to release further updates in the coming days.
