Plane crash with over 240 passengers, one survivor reported

Ahmedabad Police Chief GS Malik says there is one surviving passenger from the plane that crashed in India today.

He told news agency ANI that there is one survivor, who was sitting in seat 11A on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flight.

"The passenger has been hospitalized and is receiving medical attention," he said.

At least 204 people lost their lives today after an Air India plane - flying to London with 242 people on board - crashed minutes after taking off from the airport in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad on Thursday.

The bodies of the victims were recovered from the scene by rescue teams, with the help of the Indian army. However, it is not known how many of the victims were on board the plane and how many were people who were at the crash site.

Meanwhile, another police official told AFP that he expects there to be "more casualties" because the plane crashed over a residential area.

The plane was headed to Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom, Air India said, while police officers said it crashed in a civilian area near the airport.

Reuters reports that among the 242 passengers were 217 adults and 11 children. Of these, 169 were Indian nationals, 43 British, 7 Portuguese and 1 Canadian.

According to flight tracking site Flightradar24, the plane was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, one of the most modern passenger jets in use.

"We are currently verifying the details and will announce them," Air India said on platform X.

According to television channels, the plane crashed shortly after takeoff. One channel showed footage of the plane flying over a residential area before disappearing from the screen and a large cloud of fire rising into the sky beyond the houses.

According to air traffic control at Ahmedabad airport, the plane took off at 1:39 p.m. local time from runway 23. It made an emergency "Mayday" call, but no response was heard from the plane afterward.

Flightradar24 also said the last signal from the plane was received seconds after takeoff.

"The aircraft involved is a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with registration VT-ANB," the statement said.

The Indian aviation minister's office said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had ordered all support for rescue efforts to be provided immediately.

All relevant agencies are on standby and working in a coordinated manner, the Aviation Minister's office added.

Ahmedabad is the main city in the state of Gujarat, Modi's birthplace.

Ahmedabad airport announced that it has suspended all flight operations with immediate effect.

The last air accident in India occurred in 2020 and involved Air India Express.

The Boeing-737 aircraft skidded off a runway at Kozhikode International Airport in southern India. It skidded off the runway, fell into a ravine and hit the ground with its nose.

21 people died in that accident.

Air India, which was previously state-owned, was acquired by the Indian company Tata Group in 2022 and merged with Vistara – a joint venture between this group and Singapore Airlines – in 2024.

Tata announced that it has activated an emergency center and set up a support team for families seeking information.

Happening now...

00:00 crossword

Free scheme December 14

22:30 HAPPENING NOW

Fatal accident in Tirana

22:15 POLITICS

The municipality gave permission to Suel Çela's father to expand the food market, in addition to the socialists, also the "pro" Democratic Party of Elbasan gang

22:12 POLITICS

"I asked for a hunger strike", Kalaja: DP's national protest delayed!

21:55 POLITICS

DP will not appeal the People's Advocate to the Constitutional Court, Berisha: Let Rama enjoy it

21:41 POLITICS

"You asked for my signature for Shaban", Salianji responds to Himçi's accusations: You are being ridiculous and they consciously forced you to say it

21:36 POLITICS

"We clashed over the generator", Lapaj recounts the fight with the police outside the Prime Minister's Office

21:29 POLITICS

"The judge was not in the US, but in the campaign. Take away the word 'liar'!" Salijanj's clash with Berisha is revealed

21:13 POLITICS

Hysen Kadiu responds to Berisha: During the May 11 campaign, I worked for the DP, not for Rama! Stagnant water needs refreshing

21:04 POLITICS

'Signatures for Shaban are wrong', Agron Gjekmarkaj submits his resignation as vice president of the DP, but Berisha does not accept it!

20:55 POLITICS

''Suel Çela has blackmailed...''/ The Salianji-Noka debate on the presidency is revealed, the Elbasan MP intervenes

20:35 POLITICS

Debates within the Presidency meeting, Salianji is surrounded by journalists, Sali Berisha silently leaves the headquarters

20:29 POLITICS

"We'll take you by car for 100 thousand euros", Bislim Ahmetaj "slaps" Noka in the eye: Salianji came with a baseball bat... Flamur, come out, can you gather people?

20:26 POLITICS

Agron Gjekmarkaj resigns as vice president of the Democratic Party!

Want to read more news