Everything we know so far about doomed Air India flight as 241 confirmed dead
Everything we know so far about doomed Air India flight as 241 confirmed dead
Passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian
Footage posted online showed the plane descending rapidly with its nose up before crashing into a building
(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images )
An Air India flight heading to London Gatwick with 53 British nationals on board crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad in north-west India on Thursday.
The plane was carrying more than 240 people when it came down near a medical college building, BJ Medical College Hostel, which caused a large fire.
Officials have confirmed that 241 people on board the flight, including a Welsh family have died and just one person has survived. The death toll may increase as the plane crashed in a residential area.
For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
What happened
An infographic titled "How Air India passenger plane crash unfolded"
(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images )
The Air India flight AI171 (a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner) took off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:38 local time on Thursday, June 12.
Article continues below
Shortly after take-off, the aircraft issued a mayday call and the flight-tracking service Flightradar24 reported that signal from the plane was lost at an altitude of 625 feet just seconds after departure.
Footage posted online showed the plane descending rapidly with its nose up before crashing into a building and catching fire.
Welsh family confir med as victims
Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa and their four-year-old daughter Sara.
(Image: PA )
Akeel Nanabawa, originally from Newport, his wife Hannaa Vorajee, and their four-year-old daughter Sara have also died in the accident.
Sara's headteacher, Abdullah Samad has described her as 'a ray of sunshine' who 'lit up the classroom', the BBC has reported. He also said the family had travelled to India on a surprise trip and were well known in the community for their charity work.
You can read more about Akeel and his family here.
Who else was on board
Air India confirmed that 242 people were on board the flight, including:
• 230 passengers
• 12 crew members
• 169 Indian nationals
• 53 British nationals
• 7 Portuguese nationals
• 1 Canadian national
Police confirmed that 294 people have died, including individuals on the ground.
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik said there has only been one survivor, seated in 11A, who is a British national, 39-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh and he is currently being treated in hospital.
His brother Ajay Ramesh was also on the flight.
What we know about the plane
The crash occurred in the Meghaninagar area, according to a report by the Press Trust of India
(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images )
The model of plane is known for improved fuel efficiency and quieter performance and is known for being extremely safe.
Hassan Shahidi who is the president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation said: 'The 787 Dreamliner has been an aircraft that has been in operation now for many years, operating in large states around the world without any issues.'
This is the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787, according to the Aviation Safety Network.
Air India's response
Air India released a statement saying: 'We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital… Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected.
They added: 'Air India has set up helplines for families and is cooperating fully with the authorities. It has also deployed support teams to Ahmedabad and London Gatwick.'
CEO Campbell Wilson said investigations will take time but that the airline is prioritising accuracy in updates and support for affected families.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Tata group offering compensation
A view of the site after a plane crashed following take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport
(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images )
Tata Group, which owns Air India, has announced compensation for the families of those who died.
The company said it will provide:
• ₹1 crore (approx. £95,000) to each bereaved family
• Full medical costs for those injured
• Support in rebuilding the medical college building damaged in the crash
Article continues below
Ongoing investigation
Authorities in India are investigating the cause of the crash and Air India has pledged full cooperation. Keep updated with our live blog here
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
11 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Tributes pour in for Britons killed in Air India plane crash
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed in a fireball on Thursday in what is one of the deadliest plane accidents in terms of the number of British nationals killed. A radiologist from Derby who had a 'newly discovered love of fish and chips' was on the flight with his family, the city's Hindu Temple said. Dr Prateek Joshi, who worked at the Royal Derby Hospital, moved to the UK from India in 2021, a colleague who worked closely with him said. Flowers outside India House in London (James Manning/PA) Dr Rajeev Singh said: 'He often entertained colleagues with stories about his passions outside of work, including his newly discovered love of fish and chips and enthusiasm for walking in the Peak District. 'It is hard to accept that a man with such a passion for life, and his beautiful young family, have been taken in this way.' Two sisters in their early 20s on their way home to London after surprising their grandmother for her birthday are also said to be among the victims. A cousin who lives in Ahmedabad said fashion designer Dhir and product manager Heer Baxi had an 'amazing aura' and wanted to 'roam the world'. 'They both had aspirations to be successful enough to roam around the world along with the parents,' Ishan Baxi said. Both women knew 'what is right and what is wrong', he added. 'Right now no one is able to come to terms because they both came here just to celebrate grandma's birthday but, see, the tragedy – they came, they celebrated and they both left the world, everything is vanished right in front of our eyes.' A couple who had already lost their only son in a previous aviation tragedy were on the plane, Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, who leads the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow, north-west London, said. They were returning from a religious celebration in India. 'This couple had gone to India for a religious celebration – they were coming back and now this has happened,' Mr Guruji, 53, said. 'After what has happened to their son as well – it's just terrible to think about.' A family of three from Gloucester were also on the flight, their family said in statement issued through their imam. Akeel Nanabawa, Hannaa Vorajee and their four-year-old daughter, Sara Nanabawa, were 'widely loved and deeply respected'. Ms Vorajee volunteered at a local Islamic school and was also a director for an organisation promoting understanding of the religion, Imam Abdullah Samad said. Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa and their four-year-old daughter Sara (Family handout/BBC) Mr Nanabawa ran a recruitment firm called Iceberg Recruitment Services which had a branch in Ahmedabad, India, according to the company's website. Imam Abdullah Samad said: 'This young family was incredibly close-knit – devoted parents and their beautiful, young daughter. 'They gave their time and energy to awareness campaigns and fundraising efforts, always guided by a strong sense of responsibility to help others. 'They were widely loved and deeply respected. His quiet generosity, her warmth and kindness, and their daughter's bright, joyful spirit made a lasting impact on everyone who knew them.' Air India confirmed 241 of the 242 people on board the plane were killed when it crashed and struck a medical college in Ahmedabad. The British survivor spoke of the horror of watching people 'dying in front of my eyes'. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh told DD News 'I still can't believe how I survived' as he spoke from his hospital bed on Friday. The 40-year-old told the broadcaster the plane felt like it was 'stuck in the air' shortly after take-off before lights began flickering green and white – adding: 'It suddenly slammed into a building and exploded.' The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been in contact with Mr Ramesh to offer consular support, Downing Street said. The crash site was visited by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, with video footage showing him talking to Mr Ramesh in hospital. There are fears the number of people killed on the ground could rise. At least five medical students were killed and about 50 injured. Investigations are continuing into the cause of the crash. Aviation experts have speculated about the possible causes of the crash, from both engines failing – possibly due to a bird strike, as happened in the so-called Miracle on the Hudson in 2009 – to the flaps on the aircraft's wings not being set to the correct position for take-off. Tata Group, the parent company of Air India, said it would provide 10 million rupees (around £86,000) to the families of each of those killed in the crash. The company said it would also cover the medical costs of the injured and provide support in the 'building up' of the medical college. Air India has set up friends and relatives assistance centres at Gatwick, Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad airports to provide support in the wake of AI171's crash.
North Wales Chronicle
11 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Tributes pour in for Britons killed in Air India plane crash
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed in a fireball on Thursday in what is one of the deadliest plane accidents in terms of the number of British nationals killed. A radiologist from Derby who had a 'newly discovered love of fish and chips' was on the flight with his family, the city's Hindu Temple said. Dr Prateek Joshi, who worked at the Royal Derby Hospital, moved to the UK from India in 2021, a colleague who worked closely with him said. Dr Rajeev Singh said: 'He often entertained colleagues with stories about his passions outside of work, including his newly discovered love of fish and chips and enthusiasm for walking in the Peak District. 'It is hard to accept that a man with such a passion for life, and his beautiful young family, have been taken in this way.' Two sisters in their early 20s on their way home to London after surprising their grandmother for her birthday are also said to be among the victims. A cousin who lives in Ahmedabad said fashion designer Dhir and product manager Heer Baxi had an 'amazing aura' and wanted to 'roam the world'. 'They both had aspirations to be successful enough to roam around the world along with the parents,' Ishan Baxi said. Both women knew 'what is right and what is wrong', he added. 'Right now no one is able to come to terms because they both came here just to celebrate grandma's birthday but, see, the tragedy – they came, they celebrated and they both left the world, everything is vanished right in front of our eyes.' A couple who had already lost their only son in a previous aviation tragedy were on the plane, Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, who leads the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow, north-west London, said. They were returning from a religious celebration in India. 'This couple had gone to India for a religious celebration – they were coming back and now this has happened,' Mr Guruji, 53, said. 'After what has happened to their son as well – it's just terrible to think about.' A family of three from Gloucester were also on the flight, their family said in statement issued through their imam. Akeel Nanabawa, Hannaa Vorajee and their four-year-old daughter, Sara Nanabawa, were 'widely loved and deeply respected'. Ms Vorajee volunteered at a local Islamic school and was also a director for an organisation promoting understanding of the religion, Imam Abdullah Samad said. Mr Nanabawa ran a recruitment firm called Iceberg Recruitment Services which had a branch in Ahmedabad, India, according to the company's website. Imam Abdullah Samad said: 'This young family was incredibly close-knit – devoted parents and their beautiful, young daughter. 'They gave their time and energy to awareness campaigns and fundraising efforts, always guided by a strong sense of responsibility to help others. 'They were widely loved and deeply respected. His quiet generosity, her warmth and kindness, and their daughter's bright, joyful spirit made a lasting impact on everyone who knew them.' Air India confirmed 241 of the 242 people on board the plane were killed when it crashed and struck a medical college in Ahmedabad. The British survivor spoke of the horror of watching people 'dying in front of my eyes'. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh told DD News 'I still can't believe how I survived' as he spoke from his hospital bed on Friday. The 40-year-old told the broadcaster the plane felt like it was 'stuck in the air' shortly after take-off before lights began flickering green and white – adding: 'It suddenly slammed into a building and exploded.' The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been in contact with Mr Ramesh to offer consular support, Downing Street said. The crash site was visited by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, with video footage showing him talking to Mr Ramesh in hospital. There are fears the number of people killed on the ground could rise. At least five medical students were killed and about 50 injured. Investigations are continuing into the cause of the crash. Aviation experts have speculated about the possible causes of the crash, from both engines failing – possibly due to a bird strike, as happened in the so-called Miracle on the Hudson in 2009 – to the flaps on the aircraft's wings not being set to the correct position for take-off. Tata Group, the parent company of Air India, said it would provide 10 million rupees (around £86,000) to the families of each of those killed in the crash. The company said it would also cover the medical costs of the injured and provide support in the 'building up' of the medical college. Air India has set up friends and relatives assistance centres at Gatwick, Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad airports to provide support in the wake of AI171's crash.
South Wales Argus
11 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Caerleon School pays tribute to victims of Air India crash
Akeel Nanabawa, Hannaa Vorajee, and their four-year-old daughter Sara Nanabawa were returning to the UK from a surprise trip to India when their plane crashed into a residential area, hitting a hospital and a student hostel. Mr Nanabawa was a former pupil of Caerleon Comprehensive School and the University of South Wales before moving to Gloucester with his family. Head teacher of Caerleon Comprehensive School Lucy Purcell said: 'We at Caerleon Comprehensive School are deeply saddened to hear of the death of former pupil, Akeel Nanabawa and his wife, Hanna Vorajee and young daughter. 'Akeel is fondly remembered as an excellent student and someone who was well liked by staff and students. We send our deepest sympathies to his family.' A spokesperson for Newport City Council said: 'We were saddened to hear that the victims included a former Newport family - Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee and their four-year-old daughter Sara Nanabawa - and our thoughts are with their loved ones at this terrible time. As a mark of respect, the flag outside the Civic Centre will be flown at half-mast today.' More than 200 people including many Britons were on the flight when it crashed. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this "incredibly painful period," thanking the community for their support and solidarity. The family have asked the media and public not to contact them at this time and have said that any verified updates will be shared through the appropriate channels.
