At least 290 people have been confirmed dead after an Air India flight en route to London crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday (June 12), marking the world’s deadliest aviation disaster in over a decade.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 individuals—including 232 passengers and 10 crew—plummeted into a densely populated residential area near the BJ Medical College shortly after departing from Runway 23 at 1:39 p.m. local time. The crash occurred moments after the aircraft issued a “Mayday” distress call, after which communication ceased.
The casualties include both passengers and local residents. Authorities have confirmed the death of Vijay Rupani, former Chief Minister of Gujarat. The aircraft reportedly struck the dining hall of a medical college hostel, killing several students and injuring numerous others.
Police have confirmed at least one survivor, identified as Ramesh Viswashkumar, who was seated in 11A. He recounted hearing a loud noise just seconds after takeoff before the plane went down. “There were bodies all around me. I ran until someone put me in an ambulance,” he said from his hospital bed. His brother, who was traveling with him, remains missing.
Officials have urged families to provide DNA samples for victim identification. Gujarat’s Health Secretary, Dhananjay Dwivedi, said the affected crash zone included medical hostels, staff quarters, and residential housing, indicating a broader impact beyond the aircraft’s occupants.
Air India confirmed that the passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, 7 Portuguese citizens, and 1 Canadian. Of the total, there were 217 adults, 11 children, and 2 infants onboard.
Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, stated that it is working closely with Indian authorities to gather more details. The downed aircraft, first flown in 2013 and delivered to Air India in 2014, is the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner involved in a fatal crash.
Flightradar24 tracking data showed that the plane lost signal moments after takeoff. Aviation experts have noted that the aircraft’s landing gear was still down during the ascent—an anomaly that may point to technical issues.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will dispatch investigators to assist in the probe. GE Aerospace, which manufactures the plane’s engines, also announced it will send a team to India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose home state is Gujarat, expressed deep sorrow, calling the tragedy “heartbreaking beyond words.” He instructed federal agencies to provide full support for rescue and recovery efforts. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles have also been briefed, as several British nationals are among the deceased.
Ahmedabad Airport temporarily suspended operations but has since resumed limited flights. Adani Group, which manages the airport, said it is coordinating with emergency services and assisting affected families.
This is Air India’s worst disaster since the 2020 Kozhikode crash, which killed 21 people. Thursday’s crash now ranks among the most severe globally since the 2014 MH17 disaster.
Authorities continue rescue operations amid ongoing investigations to determine the cause of the crash.
