On Thursday, an Indian passenger aircraft heading to London crashed into a residential area in the city of Ahmedabad, India, and all 242 people on board are believed to have died.
“The tragedy in Ahmedabad has left us shocked and saddened. The heartbreaking crash of Air India flight number 171 just moments after takeoff has stunned the entire world,” said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik told AFP, “It does not appear that anyone has survived the crash.”
He said, “Since the plane crashed in a residential area with some offices, the number of casualties could be higher.”
A local resident, speaking on condition of anonymity and stating they were not an official spokesperson for the incident, said, “Our office is near the building where the plane crashed. We saw people jumping from the second and third floors trying to save themselves. The plane was clearly on fire.”
According to the Indian Civil Aviation Authority, the plane was carrying 242 people, including two pilots and 10 crew members.
Air India stated that the flight to London Gatwick had 169 Indian passengers, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national on board.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the scenes of the crash “devastating” and, in a message shared on social media during this “time of deep sorrow,” extended his condolences to the victims and their families.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft had issued a distress “Mayday” call and crashed just outside the airport perimeter shortly after takeoff.
Ahmedabad, the main city of the Indian state of Gujarat, is home to around 8 million people, and its busy airport is surrounded by densely populated areas.
Local resident Poonam Patni told AFP, “When we reached the crash site, there were many bodies, and firefighters were working to extinguish the flames.”
“Many of the bodies were burned beyond recognition,” she added.
A photo released by India’s national security agency, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), showed the rear section of the plane having crashed into a building.
The aircraft went down in an area near Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and the city’s “Horse Camp.”
