Saturday, March 29, 2025
In a devastating aviation disaster, Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon. The aircraft slammed into the premises of BJ Medical College’s hostel complex, resulting in a catastrophic loss of life.
According to initial reports, 241 passengers and crew members aboard the aircraft perished, while several students, doctors, and staff within the campus also lost their lives. One MBBS student who survived the incident shared a harrowing account of how he narrowly escaped death.
Kishan Walki, a second-year MBBS student at BJ Medical College, recounted the traumatic moment. “I was walking down the stairs after lunch when I heard a loud explosion. A wall collapsed on me, but a beam above prevented it from crushing me completely. Many of my friends were buried under debris,” he said. His roommate, Rakesh Dehora, who was with him just moments earlier, did not survive. Both were from Bhavnagar.
Eyewitnesses say the aircraft’s tail first struck the college mess, leading to the collapse of major structural parts of the hostel. The plane’s midsection, wings, and flaps were destroyed, and one segment collided directly with the fourth floor of a residential block within the campus, causing an inferno that rapidly spread through the area.
Dr. Meenakshi Parikh, Dean of the college, confirmed the tragedy, saying that four doctors, two family members, and at least six to seven mess workers are currently missing.
Among the missing is Sarla Thakur, a cook at the mess, and her granddaughter Aaradhya. Sarla’s husband, Prahlad Thakur, survived because he had stepped outside to serve food. “When I returned, firefighters were already removing bodies. I am still searching for my wife and granddaughter,” he said tearfully.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) stated that most injuries were caused by falling debris from the roof and walls. “Parts of the plane fell across different areas. Due to the rapid spread of fire and smoke, it was hard to fully grasp the sequence of events,” said an NDRF official.
Another student, Harsh Chotaliya, who sustained minor injuries, said, “There were two explosions. After that, everything was covered in black smoke and fire. For about five minutes, we couldn’t see anything. The air became toxic due to the smell of burning materials.”
Even on Friday, debris from the aircraft remained scattered throughout the campus. The aircraft’s tail was lodged in the mess rooftop, while one tire was found embedded in a hostel wall. Gujarat police and Air India officials were deployed to secure the site, preventing public access and ensuring safety.
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) teams began clearing nearby roads, but authorities have clarified that no debris will be removed until every fragment is examined by experts.
This incident stands as one of the worst aviation disasters in recent Indian history, raising serious questions about flight safety and urban proximity to flight paths. Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.
