Only one passenger survived after an Air India flight carrying 242 people crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad on Thursday, the airline said in a statement.
“We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital,” Air India said.
“The survivor is a British national of Indian origin,” it added.
Air India also released a breakdown of the nationalities of those on board: 169 were Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.
Flight AI-171, bound for London Gatwick, went down minutes after departing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 p.m. IST. The aircraft crashed into a residential complex near BJ Medical College, sparking a massive fire and triggering a large-scale emergency response.
In a separate post on X, the airline said it has established support centers at multiple airports to assist the families of the victims.
“Air India has set up Friends & Relatives Assistance Centres at Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi and Gatwick airports to provide support and take care of the needs of the families and loved ones of those on flight AI171. These centres are facilitating the travel of family members to Ahmedabad,” the airline said.
Emergency contact numbers have also been shared for those seeking information: 1800 5691 444 for calls from within India, and +91 8062779200 for international callers.
