By The Sampadak Express
The death toll from the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad earlier this week has climbed to 274, making it one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters, sources confirmed on Saturday.
The fatalities include passengers and crew members on board the ill-fated AI 171 flight, as well as residents on the ground who were caught in the aftermath. The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed seconds after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, plummeting into the residential quarters of BJ Medical College in Meghaninagar and erupting into flames.
According to officials, there were 242 people aboard 230 passengers, two pilots, and 10 crew members. Of these, only one passenger, a British national of Indian origin, survived. Among the victims was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
Sources also revealed that 10 doctors and several of their family members staying at the BJ Medical College residential complex were killed. Additionally, 24 MBBS students who sustained injuries in the crash remain hospitalized and under treatment.
More than 100 workers and 40 engineers are currently involved in the extensive efforts to clear the debris. The aircraft’s black box, critical to the investigation, was recovered from the rooftop of the medical college hostel on Friday.
Preliminary findings suggest that the aircraft lost altitude shortly after takeoff around 1:30 PM. The pilot issued a ‘Mayday’ distress call moments before the crash, indicating a full-scale emergency. Aviation experts have pointed to possible causes, including a sudden loss of thrust in both engines or a bird strike. Wreckage visuals showed bodies being retrieved from the debris, with many of the injured suffering severe burns.
The crash has triggered several questions regarding the final moments of the flight — specifically, why the plane failed to gain altitude, whether there were issues with engine controls or flaps, and if any technical or human errors played a role.
Data from the recovered black box is expected to provide a clearer picture by detailing the exact sequence of events and helping investigators differentiate between technical malfunctions and human error.
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site to assess the situation and later met with the lone survivor and other injured victims at the hospital.
The incident may also lead to one of India’s largest aviation insurance claims, given the scale of damage and loss of life.
