On Thursday, a routine flight became a national calamity when an Air India jetliner, a Boeing 787, crashed a few minutes after departure. The aircraft took off from Ahmedabad with London as its destination. The plane had taken off from Ahmedabad to London. In the five to six minutes after take-off, the plane couldn’t maintain altitude, and crashed into a college hostel near the airport, killing almost everyone on board, and dozens on the ground. 

The Air India crash caused shockwaves across two nations, only one passenger survived.

A routine flight ended in horror

At 1:30 local time, Air India Flight AI188 took to the skies from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, taking 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Most of them were Indian nationals going for work, studies, or summer travel to the UK. 

The aircraft commenced a rapid descent less than five minutes after takeoff. Witnesses stated they saw the plane dip to one side before crashing into the B.J. Medical College hostel building. The resulting impact gave rise to a huge explosion igniting nearby blocks and churning thick black smoke throughout the city.

CCTV footage and local videos showed the plane striking the building at a sharp angle. At the time of the crash, the area was usually quiet in the afternoon.

Chaos and emergency response

Rescue teams arrived in minutes. Firefighters put water on the raging flames. Police blocked the surrounding area. Medical workers helped in bringing bodies from the rubble. Emergency officials confirmed that 28 people on the ground also died – mostly students and hostel staff who were there.

“It was chaos,” said one emergency services worker. “We could hear cries coming from inside. But the heat and the fire made it almost impossible to get through at speed.”

Crews continued relief efforts through the night, searching for remains. Many people were burned beyond recognition. Local authorities have started DNA testing to identify remains.

Survivor pulled from wreckage

In a very surprising turn of events, one passenger survived. The passenger who survived is Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40 year old UK citizen of Indian origin. Mr. Ramesh was discovered alive, awake, and adjacent to the last row of the aircraft, where he was seated. He crawled out of the aircraft through a torn area of the fuselage, where he had been able to unbuckle his seat belt. 

Doctors at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital have reported that he is conscious and stable. In a statement, Ramesh described how he heard “a sudden jolt and silence” before waking up inside a scene of total wreckage “I still don’t know how I survived,” he said. 

His family in London has been notified, and British officials have confirmed they are providing assistance.

Ground casualties and local impact

The crash also resulted in the loss of numerous students and staff members in the hostel that the airplane hit. Many victims on the ground were medical students who were getting ready for afternoon classes. Rescuers said they encountered gut-wrenching scenes as they pulled victims from the wreckage of compressed concrete and rooms that had been burned to ashes.

People living in and around Ahmedabad gathered near the vicinity to light candles and pray. “This is the darkest day we have seen in years,” said a resident who lost two neighbours in the crash. 

Families and communities devastated

The crash struck two countries. In India, parents and siblings hurried to Ahmedabad to find out about their loved ones. In the UK, particularly in London and Leicester, entire communities are in mourning. 

Outside London Heathrow, families sat in shock after interacting with relatives just hours before. “We still can’t believe this happened,” said one man who is still waiting to hear about his sister. 

In Ahmedabad, people lit candles near the wreckage and held silent vigils. The Gujarat government has declared a day of mourning. Other public buildings also flew flags at half-mast.

Government response and support

Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the incident a “national tragedy” with direction to federal entities to provide full support. Civil Aviation Minister Praful Dubey visited the site and met with families of the victims.

He allocated financial assistance of ₹10 lakh for families of the deceased and ₹2 lakh for the injured. Mental health teams and grief counselors have already been deployed in both India and the UK.

Air India, currently managed by the Tata Group, expressed grief and pledged their complete cooperation with investigators. “We are heartbroken by it,” a representative of Air India said.

Global concern and industry attention

International anxiety has been triggered by the India plane crash. Aviation experts state that, historically, the Boeing 787 has a solid safety history, but any defect that is found in the aircraft could have far-reaching consequences.

Airlines and aviation regulators around the world are keeping a close watch on the investigation into the crash. This is the second significant incident tied to Air India in five years–the Kozhikode crash took place in 2020. Working with that assumption, analysts believe there will be heightened scrutiny on aircraft oversight and emergency procedures across the aviation sector.

Final thoughts

As the rescue work goes on and the nation continues to mourn its dead, the crash near Ahmedabad will eclipse many recent aviation disasters in memory, and for many families, the pain will never fade. 

The only solace in this disaster is that one man survived. But for over 240 others, their journey home ended in the unfathomable loss.

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