Published by on

Update | 13 June, 10am:

‘Mayday […] no thrust, losing power, unable to lift.’

These were the last words of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, just 11 seconds after lift-off. Sabharwal and co-pilot Clive Kunder then reportedly wrestled for 17 seconds with the controls as the jet sank through the air before crashing into the top of a medical college hostel around 1.5 kilometres from the runway.

The final alert was last logged less than a minute after it started its journey from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, according to The Sun.

While the official cause of the crash is yet to be determined, it is believed that the plane’s power had cut out after reaching just a few hundred feet of altitude.

Air India confirmed on Thursday evening that just one person, 40-year-old British dad Vishwashkumar Ramesh, who sat near an emergency exit in seat 11A, survived out of the 230 passengers and 12 crew members on board.

‘Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise, and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly,’ he told Hindustan Times. 

‘When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital.’

The British national of Indian origin, who managed to jump out of the plane through the emergency door and survive, is currently in hospital for treatment, the airline confirmed.

‘He was disoriented with multiple injuries all over his body,’ Dr Dhaval Gameti told The Associated Press after examining Ramesh. ‘But he seems to be out of danger.’

According to police reports, at least 265 people were killed in the tragic aviation disaster after locals on the ground were also found crushed by the huge fuselage which exploded in a ball of flames.

Meanwhile, the airline also confirmed that it has set up ‘Friends & Relatives Assistance Centres’ at Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi and Gatwick airports to provide support and care to the loved ones of those on flight AI171.

‘These centres are facilitating the travel of family members to Ahmedabad,’ said Air India.

A catastrophic air disaster unfolded in western India as an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plunged into a densely populated district of Ahmedabad, with all 242 people on board feared dead in what is now being called one of the deadliest crashes in the country’s aviation history.

Eyewitness videos flooded social media minutes after the crash, showing terrifying scenes of thick black smoke mushrooming over residential rooftops. The aircraft had just lifted off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, en route to London, when it suddenly lost contact with radar and crashed midday local time, only seconds after takeoff.

Authorities were met with devastation at the impact zone. The plane tore through office blocks and apartment buildings, setting off fires and chaos on the ground, as reported by India Today. The police commissioner of Ahmedabad, G.S. Malik, confirmed that it ‘appears there are no survivors.’ He also expressed concern that civilians on the ground were among the dead as the aircraft collided into a mixed-use area.

By late afternoon, recovery efforts were underway, with 204 bodies already pulled from the wreckage, according to police official Kanan Desai. Emergency responders continued combing through the scorched debris, where the aircraft’s tail was found wedged into a partially collapsed building.

The aircraft, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, included nationals from four different countries: 169 Indians, 53 Britons, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese, Air India confirmed. The airline remained tight-lipped about the crew’s identities and nationalities.

The jet had been scheduled to depart at 1:10pm local time and arrive in London later that evening. But it never made it past the city limits.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visibly shaken by the catastrophe, offered condolences to the victims’ families and called it a ‘heartbreaking’ tragedy. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said he was ‘shocked and devastated’ and is personally overseeing response efforts. ‘All rescue and emergency resources have been activated. We’re doing everything possible to manage this crisis,’ he added.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also responded, saying he was ‘deeply concerned’ and receiving updates, while King Charles III was reportedly being kept informed by Buckingham Palace.

The crash has once again thrust Boeing into the spotlight. Flight data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft’s signal vanished just moments after departure. Boeing confirmed they were ‘aware of initial reports’ and are gathering details. The news immediately rattled markets, sending Boeing shares tumbling over 8% in pre-market trading.

Air India, which was privatised under the Tata Group in 2022, activated emergency support centres for affected families. ‘This is a dark day,’ said Tata chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran. ‘Our full efforts are focused on helping the families who have suffered this unimaginable loss.’

While India has significantly improved aviation safety in recent decades, this crash reignites painful memories of previous tragedies and is expected to prompt sweeping investigations, not just locally but globally, into aircraft safety, maintenance protocols, and emergency procedures.

More updates are expected as authorities sift through the debris to uncover answers behind the horrific mid-air catastrophe.

🔥 Cape {town} Etc Discount Alert! 🔥
Unlock Cape Town’s best experiences for half the price! From unforgettable adventures to hidden gems and mouthwatering restaurants, these limited-time deals won’t last long. Snag your discount before they’re gone!

Also read:

Update: School confirms resignation of teacher accused of sexual misconduct

Picture:  @Muhamma60647427 / X

Article written by