The North News
Chandigarh, June 12
More than 204 people are feared dead after an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, crashed minutes after take-off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Wednesday afternoon.
Initial reports from hospital sources indicate that over 204 bodies have been counted, although no official casualty figures have yet been confirmed. Flight AI-171 took off at 1:38pm and crashed just two minutes later at 1:40pm. The aircraft reportedly struck the airport boundary wall before crashing into the residential hostels for junior and senior doctors near the Air Customs Cargo Office. A large plume of smoke was seen rising from the site of the crash, which has since been cordoned off by emergency personnel.
Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian.
Rescue operations began swiftly, with fire tenders, ambulances, and disaster response teams deployed to the scene. Emergency services continue to search for survivors as a technical inquiry into the cause of the crash gets underway.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah described the crash as “deeply distressing” and said he had spoken with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, who has termed the incident “very unfortunate and sad.” Shah confirmed the full support of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and central agencies. The Chief Minister has ordered the creation of a green corridor to rush injured passengers to hospital.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu also expressed his grief, saying he was “shocked and devastated.” “We are on the highest alert,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter), adding that he is personally monitoring the rescue efforts. “Rescue teams have been mobilised and medical aid is being rushed to the site,” he said.
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also conveyed condolences, stating he was “deeply anguished” and that his thoughts and prayers were with the families of the victims.
Updates are expected from Air India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as the investigation progresses.
