On Thursday, an Air India plane, Flight AI171, lost control shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad International Airport, crashing into a student hostel's canteen. Eyewitnesses recount the harrowing events leading to multiple fatalities and a frantic search for survivors amid the wreckage, as loved ones await news of those lost.**
Catastrophic Air India Plane Crash Claims Lives as Students Lunching in Canteen Become Victims**
Catastrophic Air India Plane Crash Claims Lives as Students Lunching in Canteen Become Victims**
An Air India plane crashed into a busy canteen at BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad, resulting in tragic casualties and chaos among students and staff.**
The air was thick with the scent of food and camaraderie at the BJ Medical College's canteen, where students gathered for lunch one Thursday afternoon. Laughter echoed, blending with snippets of academic discussions among the diners. But at 13:39 local time, that sense of normalcy shattered in an instant as an Air India 787 Dreamliner, Flight AI171, plunged into the building, turning the midday meal into a nightmare.
The aircraft, which had just departed from Ahmedabad's airport bound for London, encountered trouble moments after takeoff, leading to a mayday distress call. The plane crashed into the hostel complex, causing a massive explosion that left emotional devastation and destruction in its wake. While all but one on board perished, the toll on the ground was profound, with eyewitnesses recalling the swift and terrifying transition from ordinary life to chaos.
Witness accounts reveal a scene of stark horror as the aircraft struck. A local doctor reported hearing a deafening noise, initially mistaking it for thunder. Nearby residents and students rushed toward the source of the sound, only to discover the aftermath of devastation. Struck by the intensity of the explosion, two brothers, Prince and Krish Patni, immediately rushed to help but were held back by the heat emanating from the wreckage.
Once the flames settled, the brothers, along with other volunteers, entered the smoking canteen, where they grimly began searching for survivors amidst the debris. Their attempts were met with the heart-wrenching sight of injured individuals, some still grasping their meals and others trapped beneath the wreckage. Quick-thinking volunteers began removing cooking gas cylinders, preempting further explosions and engaging in desperate rescue efforts.
Survivors described their terrifying experiences as they navigated the aftermath. One student recalled being pinned beneath fallen debris, the heat and smoke engulfing him as he fought to breathe. Emergency responders confronted a difficult scene, with the extent of injuries and casualties still unfolding. Dr. Minakshi Parikh, the dean of BJ Medical College, verified that several students and family members of students were among the deceased, though the full scope of the tragedy remains to be confirmed.
In the days that followed the crash, Dr. Ravi Thakur searched frantically for his mother, who had not returned from her duties in the hostel kitchen. Rushing back upon hearing the news, he encountered chaos—firefighters and first responders swarming the scene. As search efforts continued, questions loomed regarding the precise number of casualties and the identities of the victims, reliant on DNA testing for confirmation.
As grief settled over the campus and beyond, teachers and students grappled with the loss of their peers. Confusion and despair filled the air as the community banded together whilst they awaited updates on survivors and those still missing. Meanwhile, the wreckage and stories of lives lost serve as a sobering reminder of the fragile nature of safety amidst daily routines.
