Air India Tragedy: 265 Dead, Lone Survivor Pulled from Wreckage; PM En Route

265 Killed in Air India Crash; PM Modi to Visit Site, One Survivor in Hospital.

In one of India’s worst aviation disasters, an Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon, killing at least 265 people. The aircraft struck a medical college hostel, triggering a massive blaze. Only one passenger survived.

The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI171, was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. It crashed into a densely populated area of Meghaninagar just minutes after takeoff, erupting into flames upon impact.

The Incident: The aircraft lost altitude soon after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport and slammed into the hostel wing of a nearby medical college. Eyewitness video shows the plane descending rapidly before bursting into a fireball.

Casualties: Of the 242 people on board, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and one Canadian. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the deceased. Dozens on the ground were also killed as the plane hit during lunch hour.

The Survivor: The only survivor is Vishwaskumar Ramesh, seated in 11A. He is currently undergoing treatment at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.

Rescue Operations: A massive response involving the Army, NDRF, CISF, and fire services is underway. Authorities say the fire reached temperatures over 1,000°C due to the explosion of approximately 1.25 lakh litres of jet fuel, making rescue efforts extremely difficult.

Government Response: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the crash “a devastating national tragedy” and is scheduled to visit the crash site and the hospital treating victims later today. Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu is already on-site overseeing operations.

Investigation: The DGCA confirmed a Mayday call was sent moments before contact was lost. A full investigation has been launched by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau under ICAO norms.

First Dreamliner Crash: This marks the first-ever crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the model entered service in 2011. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg offered condolences and announced a technical support team is en route to assist.

International Reaction: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the British Foreign Office is coordinating with Indian authorities. US President Donald Trump called the crash “horrific” and assured support: “Anything we can do, we will do.”

Relief Measures: Tata Group, owner of Air India, has announced ₹1 crore compensation for each victim’s family, full medical care for the injured, and financial assistance for rebuilding the damaged medical college infrastructure.