In what officials are calling India’s worst-ever crash involving a single aircraft, Air India Flight 171 crashed near Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing almost everyone onboard. The aircraft was carrying 242 people, and only one survivor has been found so far, police said.
The plane crashed into a hostel for medical students located in a busy residential area, raising fears of additional casualties on the ground.
“It appears there are no survivors in the plane crash,” said Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik.
“As the plane crashed in a populated area with homes and offices, some local residents may also have died. We are still confirming the exact number of deaths,” he added.
This is now the worst single-aircraft disaster in Indian history. The previous deadliest single-plane crash happened in 1978, when another Air India flight crashed into the Arabian Sea shortly after takeoff from Bombay (now Mumbai), killing 213 people.
Past Major Crashes in India:
- 2020 – Kozhikode:
An Air India Express flight from Dubai overshot the runway during heavy rain. The aircraft fell off a tabletop runway, split in two, and killed 21 people. “It was Kerala’s worst aviation tragedy,” said an official at the time. - 2010 – Mangalore:
Another Air India Express plane, also from Dubai, crashed while landing on a tabletop runway. 158 passengers died, and only 8 survived. “The pilot couldn’t stop the plane in time,” the investigation later found. - 1996 – Mid-Air Collision over Haryana:
This remains India’s deadliest air disaster ever. A Saudi Arabian plane and a Kazakhstan Airlines plane collided mid-air near Charkhi Dadri, killing 349 people.
Other Notable Incidents:
- 2000 (Patna): An Indian Airlines flight crashed into a residential area near Patna airport. 60 people were killed.
- 2004 (Bangalore): A small plane carrying actress Soundarya crashed shortly after takeoff. All four onboard died.
- 1998 (Kochi): A small government aircraft crashed into a naval building, killing everyone onboard and three workers inside the building.
This latest crash has not only left families of 241 passengers in deep shock but also renewed debates around air safety standards in India.
“We heard a loud explosion, and then saw smoke rising near the hostel,” said Ritesh Patel, a local resident who rushed to help before emergency teams arrived.
The Air India flight was on its way from Delhi to Ahmedabad and lost contact with air traffic control moments before landing. Emergency responders and investigators are still at the crash site.
“We are investigating what led to this tragedy. Our focus now is on rescue and recovery,” said a senior DGCA official (Directorate General of Civil Aviation).
