The list of passengers aboard the ill-fated Air India Dreamliner that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad has now been made public. Among the 242 individuals onboard were 12 crew members, including pilots. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the passengers listed.
As the nation reels from the tragic incident, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has announced it will be launching an official investigation into the cause of the crash. Speaking to PTI, officials confirmed that the AAIB Director General and the Director of Investigation will be traveling to Ahmedabad to lead the inquiry.
Following the accident, flight operations at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport were suspended for several hours.
Police say There Appear to be No Survivors
Ahmedabad plane crash LIVE: Ahmedabad police said no survivors were expected after a London-bound passenger plane with 242 on board crashed Thursday. Authorities also said that there could be more deaths in the medical college where the plane crashed.
“There appears to be no survivor in the crash,” city police commissioner GS Malik told AFP. “And since the airplane has fallen on an area which was residential and had some offices, there are more casualties as well”.
Airport Operations Resume, Safety Protocols Tightened
However, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has now confirmed that services have resumed. “Flight safety protocols are being followed with utmost care,” the ministry assured in its latest update.
Flight movements at the airport resumed at 16:05 IST after being temporarily halted due to emergency response and clearance operations.
The Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating an international flight to London, had crashed into a medical students’ hostel, according to sources. Emergency response teams have been actively working at the crash site, and rescue operations are still ongoing.
AAIB officials are set to arrive in Ahmedabad, and a detailed probe into what caused the aircraft to go down just minutes into its journey is expected to begin immediately.
The Air India tragedy in Ahmedabad is the first time a Boeing 787 Dreamliner has crashed since the plane’s introduction in 2011.
