Rescuers carry the body of a victim of airplane that crashed in Ahmedabad in Gujarat, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP)
NEW DELHI: An Air India plane flying to London, which went down shortly after take-off on Thursday, crashed into the residential quarters of doctors from BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad’s Meghaninagar area. “After the takeoff, the plane crashed here and after a preliminary enquiry, we got to know that the plane crashed into a building, which is a doctors’ hostel. After a few minutes of the incident, the concerned authorities reached the spot… We have cleared about 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the area. We urge all the people to cooperate with us so that we can make a green corridor for the ambulance to go to the hospital,” an official was quoted as saying by the news agency ANI.Meanwhile, quoting eyewitnesses, news agency PTI reported that the plane had lost altitude soon after take-off and hit buildings inside the residential complex, causing damage. They also said several people living in the quarters near the airport were injured, though there was no official confirmation of this.“The plane was flying very low and it crashed into the residential quarters of doctors of the government-run college,” eyewitness Haresh Shah was quoted as saying by the PTI.“There are several five-floor buildings which serve as residential quarters. Many people in those apartments were injured as the buildings also caught fire,” he said. Another eyewitness was quoted as saying that some cars and other vehicles parked in the compound also caught fire. The Air India flight, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI171), was carrying 232 passengers and 10 crew members. It crashed in Meghaninagar around 2pm, minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.Meanwhile, the additional chief secretary of Gujarat health department said that about 50 injured have been brought to the Civil Hospital. Moreover, Ahmedabad Police also issued a list of 25 injured in the crash. The plane was seen losing height rapidly before crashing. A fire broke out after the crash, and thick black smoke was seen coming from the site. Many people are feared dead.
