As chaos unfolded, eyewitnesses recount their experiences during a tragic event that transformed a normal afternoon into a scene of horror and destruction at a busy medical college in India.
A Horrific Plane Crash Leaves Community in Shock
A Horrific Plane Crash Leaves Community in Shock
A midday catastrophe at BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad as an Air India flight crashes into a hostel.
The atmosphere was joyful at the BJ Medical College's cafeteria, where students were enjoying lunch on a warm Thursday afternoon. With the canteen bustling and filled with at least 35 students, some mingling while others queued for their food, the noise of laughter and chatter prevailed. But at precisely 13:39 local time, that peace shattered as the sound of jet engines approached ominously, culminating in a deafening explosion seconds later.
The crash involved Air India Flight AI171, a 787 Dreamliner that had just taken off from Ahmedabad Airport, bound for London and carrying 242 passengers. Shortly after takeoff, something went disastrously wrong, leading to a mayday call and a crash just 1.5 kilometers away, landing atop the college's hostel and igniting a devastating fireball.
Eyewitnesses described the instant chaos that ensued. A medical professional nearby reported a booming sound that initially led them to assume it was thunder, confusing given the clear weather. As they rushed outside, they were met with panic as others pointed out the crashed plane. Panic erupted on the campus as students fled in fear or scrambled to understand the unfolding tragedy.
Local residents, Prince and Krish Patni, were biking nearby when the explosion occurred. They rushed to help, battling intense heat and debris to reach the scene. What they discovered was harrowing: injured individuals in shock, some still grasping their meals, amid the wreckage. With no time to waste, they focused on evacuating gas cylinders to prevent more explosions.
Survivors recalled moments of sheer terror. One second-year student sitting with friends felt an earthquake-like impact that trapped them under debris, making escape impossible. Eventually, desperate students began leaping from upper floors to evade the flames, finding the exits blocked by rubble.
The casualty count is still unclear, with at least four BJ Medical College students and four relatives confirmed dead, and identification efforts ongoing. Dr. Minakshi Parikh, dean of the college, expressed sorrow over the loss of students while prioritizing the wounded still receiving treatment.
As authorities continue to sift through the debris, restoring order amidst profound grief, families like that of Ravi Thakur, a cook who lost his wife and toddler, await answers. Emerging from this tragedy is a community grappling with unimaginable loss while honoring those affected as search and rescue efforts persist.
