London-bound Air India flight with 242 passengers crashes, majority feared dead

Ahmedabad: In one of the worst aviation tragedies in recent times, an Air India international flight carrying 242 passengers crashed soon after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport here in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon.

While the majority of the passengers are said to have been killed, the number of casualties are far bigger as the plane crashed into a medical college hostels and staff quarters.

Watch | Air India plane crashes in Ahmedabad

Although the government is yet to release the number of deaths, top officials said that the toll is likely to cross 300. 

Ahmedabad police commissioner G S Malik told DH that "at least one passenger has survived while many were still unconscious. As of now, we can't say the number of deaths." Another top official requesting anonymity said, "Majority of the passengers were killed in the crash."

Among the dead Indian passengers was Gujarat's ex chief minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Rupani. He was on his way to meet his wife, Anjali, in London. Union Jal Shakti minister and Gujarat BJP president CR Patil confirmed the tragic death of Rupani.

A government source said by 7 PM, a total of 284 bodies had been recovered. "The rescue teams have also recovered a number of body parts. We have started DNA sample collection to identify the bodies. It is going to take at least three days to ascertain the identities," he added.  

The passenger plane bound for London had 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese and one passenger from Canada. Air India said in a statement that "the flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in an accident today after take-off."

Several video clips of the crash showed black smoke billowing from the site which was barely two km from the airport. Hundreds of firefights, National Disaster Response Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Army column and police rushed to the spot to douse the wreckage of the plane.

The flight, loaded with fuel, crashed on the roof of the canteen and hostel buildings in Meghaninagar where resident doctors and staff quarters of BJ Medical College were housed. 

"I was in my office when I heard a loud noise. I came out running and saw the aircraft crashing into these buildings. Initially, I couldn't understand what was happening. It was scary," said Ashutosh Pandey, an eyewitness whose office is located close to the crash site.  At the crash site, scores of ambulances were busy ferrying the bodies to the nearby civil hospital. Close to the site of the crash, policemen guarding the periphery from onlookers and media crews were standing on the wing of the aircraft. The three buildings which were hit by the aircraft were blackened by the fire. 

DH spoke to multiple sources including police officials at the crash site, rescue teams that included army, fire officials and local police who claimed they saw a number of dead bodies-mostly charred beyond recognition and body parts scattered at the site.

"We picked up at least 40 to 50 dead bodies and put them into ambulances. It was a horrible site. We didn't see anyone alive," said two army officials who emerged from the rescue site which was cordoned off by the police.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), country's aviation regulator, in a statement said that the aircraft, AI171, lost contact with air traffic control (ATC) shortly after relaying a distress call and went down just beyond the airport perimeter.

"The flight took off at 1:39 PM IST (08:09 UTC) from Runway 23. Shortly after takeoff, the pilots issued a "MAYDAY" distress call to air traffic control. However, no further communication was received before the plane plummeted to the ground. Aircraft immediately after departure from Runway 23, fell on the ground outside the airport perimeter. Heavy black smoke was seen coming from the accident site,” it said.

A source privy to the development at the airport said that crash happened due to "complete failure of the engine." Meanwhile, Tata group announced in the evening that it "will provide Rs1 crore to the families of each person who has lost their life in this tragedy." It also said the group will cover all medical expenses on those injured and "provide support in the building up of the BJP Medical hostel."