In the wake of a devastating plane crash shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, officials confirm the death toll has risen to 270, with efforts underway to identify victims through DNA matching. The Boeing Dreamliner, bound for London, met a tragic fate minutes into its flight, crashing into a residential area and resulting in multiple casualties both on the aircraft and on the ground. Vigils across India and the UK have evoked an outpouring of grief, while investigations by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), supported by international teams, are intensifying following the recovery of the plane's black box, which officials hope will shed light on the incident.
Tragedy Unfolds: Air India Plane Crash Claims 270 Lives as Investigations Continue
Tragedy Unfolds: Air India Plane Crash Claims 270 Lives as Investigations Continue
The Air India disaster has ignited national mourning and raised serious questions about aviation safety in India.
The tragic events unfolded on Thursday when Air India Flight AI171 departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Less than a minute after takeoff, the aircraft reportedly lost altitude and collided with a building adjacent to the BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital. Dr. Dhaval Gameti, president of the college's Junior Doctors' Association, confirmed that 270 bodies had been received at the hospital, with 241 confirmed as passengers and crew aboard the flight.
The aircraft, a Boeing Dreamliner 787-8, was 11 years old and had completed 25 flights from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick over the past two years, according to aviation tracking data. In response to the crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated additional safety inspections for the Boeing 787 fleet owned by Air India as a precautionary measure.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, amidst national sorrow, visited the crash site and met survivors, including the sole survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, emphasizing the nation's collective prayer for those injured. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson found the visit to the site profoundly moving, echoing the sentiment of grief and regret shared across the nation during this tragic chapter in India's aviation history.
As vigils continue worldwide and families await news of their loved ones, the focus now shifts to understanding the causes behind this devastating event and ensuring the safety of air travel in the future.
The aircraft, a Boeing Dreamliner 787-8, was 11 years old and had completed 25 flights from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick over the past two years, according to aviation tracking data. In response to the crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated additional safety inspections for the Boeing 787 fleet owned by Air India as a precautionary measure.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, amidst national sorrow, visited the crash site and met survivors, including the sole survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, emphasizing the nation's collective prayer for those injured. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson found the visit to the site profoundly moving, echoing the sentiment of grief and regret shared across the nation during this tragic chapter in India's aviation history.
As vigils continue worldwide and families await news of their loved ones, the focus now shifts to understanding the causes behind this devastating event and ensuring the safety of air travel in the future.
