A devastating tragedy struck Ahmedabad on June 12, when Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed into a densely populated residential area just moments after departing from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

Union Minister Amit Shah has said that the the temperature in the Air India plane which crashed in Ahmedabad was so high due to burning fuel that there was no chance to save anyone. He also said that the death toll will be made official only after all the DNA samples are tested and identified. Meanwhile, search is on to recover the black box, which would help understand what happened in the final moments before the crash.

There was no official count of those killed even hours after the twin-engine aircraft crashed. However, BJP leader C R Patil confirmed that former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the dead.

Here’s what has happened so far:

• The ill-fated flight was carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers, 10 crew members, and two pilots, when disaster unfolded in the heart of the city.
• The aircraft took off at 1:39 PM, but within minutes, it was seen losing altitude rapidly, and bursting into flames sending plumes of thick black smoke in the air. According to flight data, the last signal from the plane was received at just 625 feet, less than a minute after takeoff.
• Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene as the jet plummeted into the hostel and residential quarters of doctors and staff at BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital in Meghaninagar. The crash triggered a massive explosion and sent thick black smoke billowing into the sky, visible for miles around. Several videos surfaced showing the aircraft making a slow descent just minutes after taking off.
• According to a statement from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the “aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1339 IST (0809 UTC) from Runway 23. It gave a MAYDAY Call to ATC, but thereafter no response was given by the aircraft to the calls made by ATC.”
   
• Rescue teams rushed to the site, battling flames and combing through debris in a desperate search for survivors. Indian Army deployed 130 personnel to assist in the rescue and relief operations. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) also deployed around 150 personnel to assist in the operations following the crash.
• Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, and one Canadian. The Indian Medical Association Gujarat reported that three MBBS students were among the deceased, and 45 others from the hostel were injured.
• Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik confirmed that one passenger, identified as Ramesh Vishwakumar, survived the crash. He was seated on seat 11A and is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.
• The Tata Group, which owns Air India, announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore for each bereaved family, underlining the gravity of the incident and the company’s commitment to supporting those affected.
• Union Minister Amit Shah, who rushed to Ahmedabad and visited the crash site, said after a review meeting that the entire nation is in deep shock after the tragedy. He said that the “number of those killed will be officially released by the authorities after DNA test and identification of the victims.”
• India’s aviation regulatory body and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have launched a formal investigation into the cause of the crash. Initial reports suggest that the plane’s heavy fuel load for the international journey may have intensified the post-crash fire, complicating rescue efforts.
• The tragedy has sent shockwaves across India and beyond. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow, stating he was “stunned and saddened” by the loss of life. “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X.

• Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson also expressed “deep sorrow,” saying this is a “difficult day” for all at the airline.

  “The injured passengers have been taken by local authorities to the nearest hospitals. We are actively working with the authorities on all emergency response efforts,” he said in a statement.

• Several world leaders including Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Keir Starmer, and Mark Carney joined world leaders to express solidarity with India following the “devastating” crash.
• The crash site was swarmed by fire engines, ambulances, and emergency responders who worked tirelessly to contain the blaze and assist the injured. The airport was immediately shut down, with all flight operations suspended as authorities focused on the unfolding emergency.
• The aircraft was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with First Officer Clive Kundar assisting. “While Sabharwal has 8,200 hours of flying experience, Kundar 1,100 hours,” the DGCA said in a statement.