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Over 240 dead in Air India plane crash as rescuers search through wreckage for survivors and clues to the disaster.
Rescue Operations Conclude at Crash Site as India Mulls Dreamliner Grounding
Modi Visits Wreckage, Hospitalized Victims Following Air India Tragedy
AHMEDABAD, India, June 13 (Reuters) – Rescue teams have completed operations at the site of Friday’s devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad, where at least 240 people lost their lives after a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a densely populated residential area shortly after takeoff.
Authorities continue to search through damaged and charred buildings for aircraft debris and any remaining missing persons. Police sources confirmed that one of the aircraft’s black boxes has been recovered.
The ill-fated Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew, was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport when it plunged into a neighborhood near the airport, erupting into a massive fireball that was captured on CCTV footage.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and later met with survivors receiving treatment in a local hospital. The tragedy marks the first fatal crash involving Boeing’s widely used 787 Dreamliner model.
In response to the incident, local media outlet NDTV reports that the Indian government is considering grounding the country’s Dreamliner fleet pending thorough safety inspections.
Only one passenger survived the crash, while local media reported that up to 24 people on the ground were also killed when the plane struck a medical college hostel during lunchtime. Reuters was unable to immediately verify the reported death toll.
Rescue teams have finished combing through the main crash site and are now focused on locating missing persons and recovering bodies from nearby buildings. They are also searching for parts of the aircraft that could provide clues as to why it went down shortly after takeoff.
A strong smell of jet fuel lingered in the air as cranes removed charred tree fragments from the scene. A sniffer dog sifted through the debris, while smoke continued to rise from one of the buildings.
Two police sources told Reuters that one of the two black boxes from the Boeing 787 had been recovered. However, they did not specify whether it was the flight data recorder or the cockpit voice recorder.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site in his home state of Gujarat on Friday, where he was briefed by officials on the progress of the rescue operations. During his visit, Modi also met with some of the injured victims receiving treatment in the hospital.
“The scene of devastation is saddening,” he wrote in a post on X.
Local residents noted that the hostel building for resident doctors had only been completed a year ago and was not yet fully occupied.
“We were at home when we heard a deafening noise—it sounded like a huge explosion. Soon after, thick black smoke covered the whole area,” said 63-year-old Nitin Joshi, a longtime resident of over 50 years.
Debris from the aircraft’s fuselage was strewn around the charred remains of the building it crashed into, with the plane’s tail section lodged atop the structure.
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According to a Friday report by The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, investigators are examining whether the crash may have been caused by a “loss or reduction in engine thrust.”
Meanwhile, India’s NDTV reported that the government is considering grounding Air India’s fleet of Dreamliner aircraft for safety inspections. Air India operates over 30 Boeing Dreamliners, including both the 787-8 and 787-9 variants.
The Indian civil aviation ministry, Boeing, and Air India have not yet responded to requests for comment. However, a source within Air India stated that the airline has not received any official communication from the government regarding a potential grounding.
Debris from the plane’s fuselage was strewn around the smouldering building it crashed into, with the aircraft’s tail lodged atop the structure.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal on Friday, which cited unnamed sources, investigators are examining whether a “loss or reduction in engine thrust” may have caused the crash.
India’s NDTV reported that New Delhi is considering grounding Air India’s fleet of Dreamliner aircraft for safety inspections. Air India currently operates over 30 Dreamliners, including both Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 models.
Neither India’s civil aviation ministry, Boeing, nor Air India responded immediately to requests for comment. An Air India source said the airline has not yet received any official communication from the government regarding a potential grounding.
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