More than 290 people tragically lost their lives in a devastating Air India plane crash shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad on Thursday, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in the past decade. The aircraft, which was en route to London Gatwick Airport, crashed into a medical college’s hostel during a busy lunch hour, leading to loss of life both onboard the plane, which had 242 passengers, and on the ground.
Authorities reported that at least one passenger survived the crash. Ramesh Viswashkumar, who occupied seat 11A, recounted his harrowing experience, describing the moment he heard a loud noise thirty seconds after take-off, followed by chaos as he woke up surrounded by bodies. He expressed concern for his brother, Ajay, who was on the same flight but seated in a different row.
The police confirmed that the number of fatalities included individuals from various nationalities, with 169 being Indian nationals, alongside Britons, Portuguese, and a Canadian. Among the deceased was Vijay Rupani, the former chief minister of Gujarat, highlighting the significant impact of this tragedy on the community.
The aircraft involved in this incident was identified as a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, recognized for its modern safety features. This incident marks the first crash involving the Dreamliner model, which has been operational since 2011.
Emergency response teams are working tirelessly to recover the deceased and manage the crash site, which has left parts of the plane scattered across the area. Relatives of the victims are being asked to provide DNA samples to assist in the identification process.
In light of past aviation incidents, this crash underscores the continued need for stringent safety protocols and timely investigations to prevent similar tragedies in the future. There is hope that improvements in aviation safety measures, particularly for flights operating in densely populated areas, will arise from this harrowing experience, emphasizing the importance of community support in times of tragedy.
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