Ahmedabad: The scale of the devastation from Thursday’s Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad has become tragically clear, with only one person confirmed to have survived out of the 242 onboard. The latest update from officials confirms 241 fatalities, making it one of the most catastrophic air disasters in recent Indian memory.
Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route to London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The only known survivor is Ramesh Vishwas Kumar, a British national of Indian origin, who was seated in 11-A. Video footage released later showed him conscious and speaking after being pulled from the wreckage.
Initial reports had indicated the possibility of another injured survivor receiving treatment. However, subsequent confirmations from news agencies stated that all others aboard had died.
The ill-fated flight carried 230 passengers: 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven from Portugal, and one Canadian. Among them were 103 men, 114 women, 11 children, and two infants, alongside a 12-member crew.
Among those killed was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The aircraft struck a residential building that houses doctors affiliated with Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. At the time of the impact, between 50 and 60 doctors were reportedly present; over 15 were injured in the crash.
Recovery efforts at the site have been harrowing. Officials say many bodies are so badly burned that DNA testing will be required for identification. Emergency crews remain at the scene, while aviation authorities have launched a formal investigation into the cause of the crash.
We are deeply anguished by the tragic event involving Air India Flight 171.
No words can adequately express the grief we feel at this moment. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones, and with those who have been injured.
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