AIR INDIA PLANE CRASHES IN AHMEDABAD, 204 BODIES RECOVERED

A devastating plane crash occurred in Ahmedabad, western India, on Thursday, June 12, 2025, killing hundreds of people. A London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 people on board crashed into a residential area shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

The plane, which was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian, crashed at around 1:38 pm local time. According to local police, 204 bodies have been recovered from the crash site, but it’s unclear how many of those victims were on the plane or on the ground.

Miraculously, one British passenger, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, survived the crash. Ramesh, who was seated in seat 11A, said, “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise… it all happened so quickly.” He has “no idea” how he escaped the plane, according to his relatives. Ramesh suffered injuries on his face and was covered in blood.

Indian Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah visited the crash site and met with Ramesh in the hospital. Shah said DNA testing is underway to identify the victims and an official death toll will be released once the process is complete. “On behalf of the government of India, the government of Gujarat, and the prime minister, I express deep condolences to all those who lost their lives,” Shah said.

The rescue operation at the crash site has been completed, but a search operation continues overnight. Teams of US and UK specialists are heading to India to assist with the investigation. The cause of the crash is still unknown, but investigators will analyze the plane’s black boxes, which may hold crucial information.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the crash “absolutely devastating” and said the UK team had been dispatched to Gujarat to join the investigation. US President Trump offered “anything we can do” to Indian authorities, calling it a “horrific crash.”

The plane crashed into a doctors’ hostel, injuring at least 50 medical students who are being treated in the hospital. The incident has sent shockwaves across the globe, with leaders and citizens alike mourning the loss of lives. As the investigation begins, the focus remains on providing support to the affected families and determining the cause of the tragic accident.