204 bodies found from Air India plane crash

Indian authorities say 204 bodies have been found from the crash of Air India passenger plane shortly after taking off from Ahmadabad’s airport to London.

A police spokesman told the DPA news agency that the plane, traveling from the western city of Ahmadabad to Gatvik Airport, crashed today, with almost all passengers believed to have died.

The only confirmed survivor is the 40-year-old Briton Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who in a statement to the Hindus Times newspaper described that the demolition occurred only 30 seconds after taking off, accompanied by a strong noise before the collision.

The plane, model Boeing 787 Drivinner, took off from Ahmadabad Airport with a total of 242 passengers, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, one Canadian and seven Portuguese nationals. According to reports, the aircraft crashed on the building of the BC Medical School, with parts of the aircraft, including landing equipment, trunk and tail, stuck in the building.

A fiery ball and large clouds of black smoke were visible after the crash, and video shots circulated online show the plane flying over a residential zone before it disappears behind trees, followed by an explosion.

Tata Group, Air India’s parent company, expressed deep compassion and announced the financial support of 10 million rupees (about $ 117,000) for the families of those killed, as well as covering the medical costs for the injured. Also, the company promises support for the renewal of the Faculty of Medicine damaged in the accident.

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said: « This is a difficult day for us all in Air India, and our efforts are now fully focused on the needs of our travelers, crew members, their families and close. »

British authorities, along with India, have launched an investigation, with the British Aviation Investigation Commission (AAIB) sent teams to India. King Charles said he was « desperately shocked » by the incident, and Buckingham Palace said it was regularly informed about the development of the situation.

Prime Minister Kir Starmer said the information about the crash was « devastating », while his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi said he was « speechless, with a broken heart ».

A Downing Street spokesman confirmed that the public should be prepared for significant losses of British lives, adding: « This is a deeply disturbing time for families, and the situation is still developing. »

« The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joint Development and Communities (FCDO) has formed a crisis team in India and the UK, » Foreign Minister David Lami said.

Gatvik Airport, meanwhile, announced the opening of a reception center for passengers.

According to the Database of the Aviation Network, this is the first incident that includes Boeing 787. Flightradar24 data show that the aircraft after takeoff has reached a maximum height of 625 feet (about 190 meters), before it starts at a speed of 475 feet per minute.

Air India was taken over by Tata Group by the Indian government in January 2022, after accumulating billions of pounds. The airline operates from Birmingham, Gatvik and Heathrow in the UK, with lines to Indian cities such as Ahmadabad, Delhi, Mumbai and Bengalu.

Gatvik flights began in March 2023, with 12 flights a week and five to Ahmadabad.

A recent analysis of the news agency has shown that it is the worst airline due to delays in British airport flights last year, with the planes taking off on average more than 45 minutes later.

The airline has gained a bad reputation for delays and cancellations in recent years, partly caused by the lack of funds to buy spare parts for aircraft, leading to the landing of part of its fleet.