In a devastating aviation disaster on Thursday, June 12, five medical students – four undergraduates and one postgraduate resident – lost their lives after an Air India aircraft crashed into the hostel complex of BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad. The tragedy also left nearly 40 doctors injured, with at least one reported to be in critical condition.
The Air India flight, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating as AI171, was en route to London and had 242 people on board, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The aircraft took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 PM and lost altitude almost immediately. According to aviation officials, the plane failed to gain proper lift and crashed at a low altitude of just 825 feet.
The aircraft plowed into the Atulyam Hostel, which houses students and resident doctors of BJ Medical College, causing massive structural damage and triggering a large fire.
The DGCA confirmed that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the pilot in command, issued a “Mayday” distress signal moments after takeoff, before the aircraft lost contact with Air Traffic Control. A “Mayday” call indicates a severe, life-threatening emergency.
Among the passengers on board were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. All 12 crew members, including two from Manipur and several senior cabin crew, were also confirmed dead.
Search and rescue teams have since recovered the aircraft’s black box, including both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, which are expected to play a crucial role in determining the exact cause of the crash. Investigations by aviation authorities are currently underway.
