A passenger plane heading to London, England, carrying 242 people, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday. One person survived the crash and was being treated in a hospital, Air India confirmed early Friday local time. All 241 other people who were onboard have died.
The aircraft was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. The airline described the sole survivor as a British national of Indian origin.
At Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital, Dr. Dhaval Gameti said he had examined the survivor, whom he identified as Vishwashkumar Ramesh, according to The Associated Press. “He was disoriented, with multiple injuries all over his body. But he seems to be out of danger,” Gameti is quoted as saying.
Ramesh’s brother, Nayan Ramesh, confirmed to the New York Times that he was the sole survivor of the crash. He told the outlet Vishwashkumar Ramesh had been on vacation with another one of his brothers, who was also on the plane, describing the family as “completely devastated and just in shock.”
His cousin, Ajay Valgi, told reporters on Thursday that Vishwashkumar Ramesh was “fine,” CNN reported.
TIME has been unable to independently verify reports relating to Ramesh being the lone survivor.
Sambit Patra, a lawmaker from Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, said Gujarat’s former chief minister, Vijay Rupani, is reportedly among the dead.
Footage shows the Air India Boeing 787-8 plane flying low above a residential area before crashing, resulting in a ball of flames emerging from the impact site.
Local media reported that the plane crashed into local medical college accommodation, south-west of Ahmedabad’s airport. At least five people at the accommodation building are believed to have been killed in the crash, as well as many others reported injured and or missing.
Police initially said it appeared there were no survivors from the flight. But the Ahmedabad police commissioner, G.S. Malik, later said there could be survivors, as rescue teams continued working. Over 200 bodies have been recovered from the site.
How did the crash in Ahmedabad unfold?
The plane took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 p.m local time. Initial indications that it had crashed came when Air India announced the aircraft had been “involved in an accident.”
FlightRadar, which displays live updates for flights worldwide, shows that the path of the plane ended shortly after takeoff. The signal with the aircraft was reportedly lost at around 625 ft.
A large ball of flames could be seen rising from the crash site, followed by clouds of dark smoke as emergency services rushed to the scene. Images of the crash site show extensive damage to buildings in the vicinity, with charred rubble and parts of the plane scattered across the landscape. The rear of the aircraft could be seen partially intact on top of a nearby building.
What are the details of the flight?
There were 242 people onboard the Air India plane, including 12 crew.
The flight was scheduled to land at London’s Gatwick Airport at approximately 6:25 p.m. local time on Thursday evening, according to the airport.
Aviation expert Julian Bray has said that the pilot made a mayday call before the crash, indicating that the crew was aware of a problem with the aircraft.
Local news outlet NDTV is reporting that pilot Sumeet Sabharwal had 8,200 hours of flight experience, and co-pilot Clive Kundar had 1,100 hours, citing the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Boeing, the plane’s manufacturer, said in a statement that it was in contact with Air India regarding the flight and was ready to support the airline.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171, as well as everyone affected in Ahmedabad. I have spoken with Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran to offer our full support, and a Boeing team stands ready to support the investigation led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau,” Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg said.
It is the first ever Boeing 787-8 plane to crash, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.
However, generally speaking, Boeing has a history of high-profile crashes. This latest incident comes a month after the aircraft company agreed to pay $1.1bn in a deal with the U.S. Department of Justice to avoid prosecution over two crashes in 2018 and 2019 that together killed 346 people.
Air India said the plane was 12 years old.
Just hours after the most recent crash, as of around 4 p.m. local time, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport has reopened and is operational once again, according to India’s civil aviation ministry.
Tata Group, the parent company of Air India, said that it is “deeply anguished” by the crash. The company said it will be providing ₹1 crore, equivalent to over $116,000, to the families of those who have died in the crash.
“We remain steadfast in standing with the affected families and communities during this unimaginable time,” the Tata Group relayed in a statement.
How are lawmakers and world leaders reacting?
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the crash a “tragedy” and said he is “stunned and saddened.”
“It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. [I] have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected,” he said in a statement via social media.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also offered his condolences, calling the situation “devastating.”
“I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time,” Starmer said.
Starmer said later Thursday that the U.K. has dispatched an investigation team in response to the crash.
Meanwhile, former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that he and his wife are “deeply shocked and distressed” by the incident. “There is a unique bond between our two nations and our thoughts and prayers go out to the British and Indian families who have lost loved ones today,” he said.
King Charles III has offered his “deepest possible sympathies” in an official statement. “My wife and I have been desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad this morning. Our special prayers and deepest possible sympathies are with the families and friends of all those affected,” His Majesty said. “I would like to pay a particular tribute to the heroic efforts of the emergency services and all those providing help and support at this most heartbreaking and traumatic time.”
India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said he is “deeply shocked and saddened” by the incident, adding that “all aviation and emergency response agencies have been directed to take rapid and coordinated action.”
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump said “the plane crash is terrible. I’ve already told them, anything we can do … It’s a big country, a strong country. I let them know that anything we can do, we’ll be over there immediately.”
The U.S.’s National Transportation Board said in a post on X that it would lead a team of U.S. investigators traveling to India to assist in the investigation into the crash.
The country’s Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said his department was “prepared to assist India with anything it needs to investigate this tragedy.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney relayed that he was “devastated” to learn of the incident. “My thoughts are with the loved ones of everyone on board. Canada’s transportation officials are in close contact with counterparts and I am receiving regular updates as the response to this tragedy unfolds,” he said.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro also reacted to Thursday’s crash. “It was with deep dismay that I learned of the tragic plane crash in India, in which seven citizens with Portuguese nationality were travelling,” he said. “On behalf of myself and the Government, I would like to express my condolences and deep solidarity with the families of the victims.”
