At least 290 people have lost their lives after a passenger plane crashed during takeoff at an airport in Ahmedabad, India, according to health officials.
The plane, en route to London, collided with a hostel for medical doctors when it crashed, as evidenced by images showing its tail protruding from the building.
The death toll includes both passengers and individuals on the ground, as reported by the police.
The Air India flight, which had a total of 242 passengers, met its tragic end when it crashed. The airline confirmed that 241 passengers were killed in the crash, while only one passenger, a British national, managed to survive.
The crash also resulted in fatalities on the ground after the plane struck the hostel for doctors.
As of late Thursday, June 12, senior police official Vishaka Dabral informed The Washington Post that at least 269 bodies had been brought to the city’s Civil Lines hospital.
Vidhi Chaudhary, a prominent state police officer, stated that they were still verifying the exact number of fatalities, including those who perished in the building where the plane crashed.
Ramila, the mother of a student at the medical college, shared her son’s experience with ANI. She revealed that her son had gone to the hostel for his lunch break when the plane crashed.
Ramila expressed relief, stating that her son was safe and that she had spoken to him. She further mentioned that he had jumped from the second floor, resulting in some injuries.
Chaudhary informed Reuters that the only known surviving passenger aboard the plane was seated in seat 11A, next to an emergency exit. She also hinted at the possibility of more survivors in the hospital.
Ramesh Viswashkumar, a 40-year-old passenger, recounted the incident to the Hindustan Times. He described the sudden loud noise and subsequent crash, which occurred approximately 30 seconds after takeoff.
Viswashkumar, who had a boarding pass for seat 11A in his name, vividly remembered the chaos and fear that ensued. He recalled standing up and running amidst the bodies scattered around him, surrounded by debris from the plane. Fortunately, someone grabbed hold of him, and he was promptly taken to an ambulance and brought to the hospital.
Viswashkumar also mentioned that his brother, Ajay, was seated in a different row on the plane.
“He was traveling with me, and I can’t find him anymore. Please help me locate him,” he pleaded.
Ahmedabad Police Chief G.S. Malik clarified that the recovered bodies could include both passengers and individuals who were killed on the ground. Among the deceased was Vijay Rupani, the former chief minister of Gujarat state, which is Ahmedabad’s primary city.
