A devastating air disaster struck western India on Thursday as an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, claiming the lives of 241 passengers and crew.
The aircraft plunged into a densely populated neighborhood, smashing into a hospital and nearby hostel for medical students.
The ill-fated flight was en route to London when it went down mere moments after lifting off the runway. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, but were met with overwhelming wreckage and fire. Several individuals on the ground are also feared dead, though local authorities are still assessing the full toll.
Astonishingly, one person survived the crash. A British national, seated in 11A, walked away from the wreckage with minor injuries. According to family members, the survivor remains in shock and has no memory of how he escaped the inferno.
The cause of the crash remains unknown, though investigators from India’s aviation authority have launched a full inquiry, joined by officials from Boeing and international aviation bodies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over the disaster, calling it a national tragedy and offering condolences to the families affected.
