A devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad has claimed 270 lives, marking the deadliest aviation disaster in over a decade. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed into the canteen of BJ Medical College shortly after takeoff en route to Gatwick Airport in the UK.
The blast resulted in a huge explosion, which set the canteen on fire where the medical students were having lunch. As black smoke billowed into the sky, local citizens were the first responders, seeking to assist victims even as the fire continued to burn.
One of the earliest responders was Raju Patel, a 56-year-old construction businessman, who arrived with his team within five minutes of the impact. “For the first 15 to 20 minutes, we could barely get close. The fire was too intense,” Times of India quoted him as saying.
As emergency services including fire brigades and 108 ambulances arrived, Patel and his workers assisted rescue efforts, using sarees and bedsheets to carry the injured when stretchers weren’t available. “We did what we could,” Patel added, noting they remained on-site until 9 pm.
Wreckage Yields Gold, Cash, and Passports
During the search of the burnt belongings, Patel’s team was able to recover 70 tolas (over 800 grams) of gold, ₹80,000 in cash, passports, and also a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, which was later surrendered to the local police.The wreckage also included scorched luggage and personal belongings of passengers.
Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi later confirmed that all salvaged items are being documented and will be returned to the victims’ families after verification.
The aircraft’s descent tragically brought it down into the hostel building of BJ Medical College, causing massive loss of life on the ground as well. Dhaval Gameti, President of the Junior Doctors Association, stated that at least 270 bodies have been recovered from the site. Only one survivor from the flight has been identified so far, making this one of the deadliest crashes involving a Boeing 787.
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Students and faculty at the medical college were caught off guard, many of them wounded or killed during lunch break. Images from the site showed indications of a canteen fully burned down, and emergency teams were working day and night to clear the site.
The crash will cause irreparable damage to Air India’s safety reputation. In fact, the airline was trying to rebuild public confidence and turnaround its fleet as it was taken over by the Tata Group, moving from the Indian government in 2022.
Aviation experts are calling for an investigation into the causes of the crash really important given that the aircraft began losing altitude moments after takeoff. The black box should provide important data into a technical or human error.
For Raju Patel, this was not the first time he stepped up in a disaster. He had also volunteered during the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts. Speaking to reporters, he expressed the emotional toll of what he witnessed. “I’m just grateful we could do something,” he said quietly.
His actions, along with those of other residents, have been hailed across social media, where citizens praised Ahmedabad locals as unsung heroes in the aftermath of this tragedy.
The area has been secured by officials, as a full investigation is now underway. Officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have now arrived on scene.
As disaster responders engage in rescue efforts, India absorbs one of the worst aviation disasters in its history, families anxiously await news about their loved ones, and the emotional toll of the event is heavily felt across the country.
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