All 242 Onboard Killed in Plane Crash in India

The Voice News: In a tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, all 242 people onboard have died, according to Indian media outlet News18.On Thursday (12 June), the aircraft took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad en route to London, United Kingdom. Just minutes after takeoff, the plane crashed. Of the 242 people onboard, 230 were passengers and the remaining 12 were crew members.According to reports, the passengers included:169 Indian nationals53 British nationals7 Portuguese nationals1 Canadian citizenThe aircraft reportedly crashed into the hostel of BJ Medical College, causing additional damage in a residential area.Ahmedabad City Police Commissioner G.S. Malik told the Associated Press (AP) that the scene suggested no survivors. He said:> “It appears there are no survivors in this crash. The plane crashed in a residential area. There may also be casualties among local residents. We are still determining the total number of deaths.”Bird Strike Likely Caused the CrashA video of the tragic incident has gone viral. It shows the aircraft wobbling after takeoff from the runway before it crashes. The Air India flight struck the hostel building of a local medical college shortly after becoming airborne.An aviation expert told NDTV that the aircraft may have suffered a bird strike immediately after takeoff, causing it to lose the necessary thrust required to gain altitude. Despite the pilot’s efforts, the aircraft couldn’t stay aloft.Saurabh Bhatnagar, a former airline captain and aviation expert, said:> “Initially, it seems that multiple birds hit the aircraft, disabling both engines. The takeoff itself was smooth, but the descent began before the landing gear could even retract—this typically happens when engines fail or the aircraft loses lift. The exact cause will be determined after investigation.”He added:> “From the video, it appears the takeoff was normal and the descent was somewhat controlled. The pilot had issued a Mayday call, indicating an emergency had occurred during flight.”