265 killed in Air India plane crash, PM Modi to visit accident site today

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Air India Flight AI171 bound for London crashed moments after taking off from Ahmedabad airport, killing at least 265 people in what authorities described as the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade.

Air India flight AI171 crashed near Ahmedabad airport shortly after take-off. (PTI)

UPDATED: Jun 13, 2025 07:18 IST

In one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent history, at least 265 people were killed when an Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plummeted right into a medical college hostel, sparking a massive blaze and leaving only one survivor among the 242 on board. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in Ahmedabad today to inspect the crash site and visit the Civil Hospital, where the injured are receiving treatment.

AIR INDIA PLANE CRASH: 10 POINTS

The ill-fated Flight AI171 was headed for London’s Gatwick Airport when it went down in the densely populated Meghaninagar residential area, just minutes after lifting off. Footage captured by a bystander showed the aircraft losing altitude as it struggled to gain lift before erupting into a fireball upon impact.
There were 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese and a Canadian among the 230 passengers on board, along with 12 crew members. Only one man made it out alive -- Vishwaskumar Ramesh, a passenger seated in 11A. He is receiving treatment at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.
The plane crashed into the hostel block of a medical college during lunchtime, increasing casualties on the ground. A massive multi-agency rescue operation involving the Army, NDRF, CISF, and local fire services was launched.
Rescue workers said temperatures at the crash site reached 1,000 degrees Celsius due to the explosion of over 1.25 lakh litres of jet fuel. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said it was "impossible to save anyone" due to the intensity of the blaze.