Ahmedabad: plane carrying 242 people crashes on take-off at hospital complex

Tragedy in Gujarat: an Air India flight crashed in a residential area. Among the victims are several doctors from a hostel involved in the explosion of the aircraft. In addition to many Indians, there were also British, Portuguese and Canadian passengers on board. Archbishop Macwan tells AsiaNews: ‘We are in shock at the news. We pray for the families of the victims and for the injured.’

 Ahmedabad (AsiaNews) - India is in shock after a serious air tragedy near Ahmedabad airport in the state of Gujarat.

An Air India flight carrying about 242 passengers bound for London crashed shortly after take-off. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, fully fuelled, crashed into a residential area, right on top of a hospital complex.

Weather conditions and visibility were good in the area of the disaster. Residents of the Meghaninagar area, which was affected by the tragedy, reported hearing a loud noise before seeing a thick column of smoke in the sky. 

There were 230 passengers and 12 crew members on board the plane. Among the passengers were British and Portuguese citizens and one Canadian, as well as numerous Indians, including the former chief minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani, a member of the BJP who had led the local government from 2016 to 2021. There are also at least 12 victims in a hostel for doctors that was hit by the crash.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Gujarat, Monsignor Thomas Ignatius Macwan, Archbishop of Gandhinagar, told AsiaNews: "We are extremely shocked and saddened by the news of the Air India Boeing crash, which departed from Ahmedabad and was bound for London. We pray to God to protect all the passengers on the crashed flight. May the injured recover soon. Our deepest condolences go to the families of the victims of the accident."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is originally from Gujarat, has also expressed his grief in a post on social media: ‘The tragedy in Ahmedabad has shocked and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. At this sad time, my thoughts are with all those affected. I am in touch with ministers and authorities who are working to help those involved.’