At Least 265 Dead in India Plane Crash, One Survives

A London-bound Air India flight crashed into a residential area near Ahmedabad airport on Thursday, killing at least 265 people, including passengers, crew, and residents on the ground. In a rare miracle, one passenger survived.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew, slammed into a densely populated neighborhood shortly after takeoff, setting buildings ablaze and scattering debris over a wide area.

Rescue workers continued combing through the wreckage early Friday, with officials confirming the death toll had reached 265. Authorities fear the number could rise as more bodies are recovered.

“One half of the plane crashed into a residential building housing medical staff, while the front of the aircraft struck a canteen where students were having lunch,” said Dr. Krishna, a local doctor who helped rescue about 15 people.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow, calling the tragedy “heartbreaking beyond words.” Air India confirmed that the only known survivor, identified as 40-year-old British national of Indian origin Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, is receiving treatment in hospital.

The aircraft was carrying passengers from several countries, including 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III also expressed shock over the incident.

The crash is under formal investigation. Aviation authorities from India, the US, and the UK are deploying teams to examine the site. Boeing, which manufactured the aircraft, said it is cooperating with investigators.

Air India’s parent company, Tata Group, announced financial assistance of ₹10 million ($117,000) per deceased victim’s family and pledged to cover medical costs for the injured.

This marks one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in decades. While investigators have not confirmed the cause, experts suggest a rare double engine failure—possibly from a bird strike—may be to blame.

Ahmedabad, the largest city in Gujarat state with over eight million residents, is surrounded by densely populated housing near its airport. Witnesses described scenes of devastation, scorched bodies, and intense firefighting efforts.

The crash is the first involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a model widely used in global aviation.