Worst aviation disaster, casualties over 300

1. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) in Ahmedabad has been shut till further notice
2. Tata Group has announced that they will provide ₹1 crore to the families of each person who has lost their life
3. Lone survivor

The memories of 1988 Indian Airlines flight 113 accident in Ahmedabad in which 133 passengers were killed came flooding back as Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787, crashed into the residential quarters of doctors from BJ Medical college in Ahmedabad’s Meghaninagar area five minutes after taking off at 1:38 p.m. local time on Thursday.

The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed within five minutes of taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 pm.

Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and the co-pilot Clive Kundar issued a MAYDAY call to ATC at 13:39 IST but the aircraft did not respond to the calls from ATC and after departing from Runway 23, crashed into a building leaving heavy black smoke.

The plane plunged at a rate of 475 feet per minute from 625 feet. The pilots had less than a minute to reach before it eventually crashed and exploded. The building on which it has crashed is a doctors' hostel.

The Boeing 787-8 aircraft was carrying 242 passengers and crew members. Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese and one Canadian national. The lone survivor, Ramesh Viswashkumar, 38 who was seated on 11 A, jumped out of the emergency exit.

The aircraft crashed onto the residential blocks 1,2,3,and 4 of the doctors hostel –where 60 intern and resident doctors were resting. The doctors were charred and crushed under concrete debris.

The Gujarat government established a control room, and Air India set up a hotline (1800 5691 444) for affected families. Internationally, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences, reflecting the crash’s global impact given the presence of 53 British nationals on board.

Hours after a London-bound plane crashed soon after taking off from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday, the British High Commission in India said it is working with local authorities to urgently establish the facts and provide support.

Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani was believed to be on board the London-bound Air India plane that crashed near the Ahmedabad airport soon after take-off on Thursday, a BJP leader said.

What is MAYDAY call?

MAYDAY call is an internationally recognised distress signal given by pilots, mariners and other professionals in emergency situations to request immediate aid and attention. It signifies a life-threatening situation, such as a serious technical issue, accident, or imminent danger to the crew or passengers.

Pilot error, recurring factor

Pilot error has been a recurring factor in these incidents, cited as a primary cause in the 2000, 2010, and 2020 crashes. The Ahmedabad crash’s cause is still under investigation, but the Mayday call suggests the crew was aware of a critical issue, possibly mechanical or operational.

AAIB to probe the plane crash

Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will probe the Air India plane crash at the Ahmedabad airport. Under the civil aviation ministry, AAIB is responsible for the classification of safety occurrences, involving aircraft operating in the Indian airspace into accidents and serious incidents.

The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and autho-rities who are working to assist those affected.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     -Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India

Deeply shocked and pained by the devastating flight crash in Ahmedabad. Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers, crew members, their families, and the residents affected.

                                                                                                                                                                                               -N Chandrababu Naidu Chief Minister of AP

Deeply saddened by the tragic air crash of #AirIndia flight in #Ahmedabad. My thoughts and prayers  with all those on the flight and their families.

-A Revanth Reddy Chief Minister of Telangana

Plane crashes since 2000

Alliance Air Flight 7412 (July 12, 2000) On July 12, 2000, Alliance Air Flight 7412, a Boeing 737-200 operating a domestic flight from Kolkata to Patna, crashed while attempting to land at Patna’s Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport. The aircraft, carrying 58 people (52 passengers and six crew members), overshot the runway and crashed into a residential area, bursting into flames. The crash resulted in 60 deaths.

Air India Express Flight 812 (May 22, 2010): On May 22, 2010, when Air India Express Flight 812, a Boeing 737-800, crashed while landing at Mangalore International Airport. The flight, arriving from Dubai with 166 people on board (160 passengers and six crew), overshot the runway, plunged into a gorge, and caught fire. The crash killed 158 people, with only eight survivors.

Air India Express Flight 1344 (August 7, 2020)

On August 7, 2020, Air India Express Flight 1344, another Boeing 737-800, crashed while landing at Kozhikode International Airport in Kerala. The flight, a repatriation mission carrying 190 people (184 passengers and six crew) from Dubai during the COVID-19 pandemic, skidded off the runway during heavy rain and plunged into a valley. The aircraft broke apart, resulting in 21 deaths.