A major commercial aircraft en route from India to London went down early Thursday morning shortly after departure. Emergency teams are now working urgently to comb through the debris and assess the possibility of any survivors.
The Boeing 787-8, carrying 242 passengers, is feared to have resulted in a devastating loss of life. Ahmedabad’s city police commissioner provided an update during a press briefing, indicating the grim reality of the situation.
“It appears there are no survivors in the plane crash,” Commissioner G.S. Malik told the AP.
Due to the crash occurring in residential zones soon after takeoff, “some locals would have also died,” he added.
“Exact figures on casualties are being ascertained,” he said.
Footage from the scene shows panicked residents running toward thick, dark smoke rising from the wreckage, as the India Air jet slammed into buildings, including a hostel reportedly used by medical professionals, according to Reuters.
A high-ranking police official informed the outlet that 70% to 80% of the area has already been cleared, with efforts ongoing to clear the remainder. Meanwhile, Air India announced on X that it has restarted a limited number of flights in the aftermath.
The crash has stunned the nation, where air travel has grown rapidly in recent years, amid mounting concerns about Boeing aircraft safety and past Air India accidents.
In 2022, the Indian airline was acquired by Tata Group, marking what CNN described as a symbolic return to its roots. Originally established by J.R.D. Tata in 1932, the airline was later nationalized in 1953.
Before the acquisition, Air India faced financial struggles and was involved in several serious incidents, including the 2020 crash of an Air India Express flight that claimed at least 18 lives. In 2018, another Air India Boeing 737 crashed after striking a wall shortly after liftoff.
One of the deadliest aviation disasters in Indian history took place in 2010, when 158 people died after an Air India plane overran the runway during landing.
In a post on social media, Boeing said it is “ready to support” victims’ families and the employees of Air India.
“Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected,” it added in an X post.
