Air India crash kills 265 in Ahmedabad

A tragic aviation disaster occurred when Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, resulting in the recovery of 265 bodies. The flight, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, lost altitude approximately 30 seconds after departure and collided with a hostel at B.J. Medical College. Among the deceased, 241 were confirmed to be on board, while the remaining victims are believed to be students and locals.

The sole survivor, British national Viswashkumar Ramesh, managed to escape through the wreckage and was hospitalized. Indian Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the intense heat from the burning wreckage left little chance for survival. A final death toll will be confirmed following DNA verification.

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the deceased, prompting condolences from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described the incident as "heartbreaking beyond words." Air India expressed its condolences and pledged support for the victims' families, while Tata Group, the airline's owner, announced compensation of 10 million Indian Rupees for each victim's family.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has initiated a formal investigation, with assistance from Boeing and other international agencies. Preliminary reports indicated that the aircraft issued a "Mayday" call before losing communication, and eyewitnesses noted that the landing gear was down during the flight.

Emergency response teams, including the National Disaster Response Force and the Indian Air Force, were deployed for rescue operations. The black box has been recovered, which is expected to provide crucial data for the investigation. This incident marks the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its introduction in 2011 and is considered the deadliest single-aircraft disaster in India's aviation history.