A tragic accident unfolded in Ahmedabad on Thursday as Air India flight AI-171, bound for London&rsquo;s Gatwick Airport, crashed minutes after takeoff, striking a residential hostel housing intern doctors and their families. Following the incident, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport suspended all operations until further notice.
The aircraft collided with the third, fourth, and fifth floors of a multi-storey hostel building in the Meghani Nagar area, triggering a massive blaze that engulfed the structure. The fire, intensified by the impact, led to widespread destruction and panic.
Initial reports suggest that more than eight people may have lost their lives, with many others injured or missing. Over 50 residents, including young medical interns and their families, were inside the building at the time of the crash. Several people were trapped, and some were forced to leap from windows to escape the fire.
One eyewitness recounted a horrifying moment where a man threw his child from the fourth floor in a desperate attempt to save her. Another woman, who jumped from the same floor, sustained critical injuries.
In a shocking development, incidents of theft were reported during the ongoing rescue operations. Safes, cash, mobile phones, and jewellery were allegedly stolen by individuals pretending to assist as volunteers. Authorities have condemned the act, and it has sparked public outrage.
Meanwhile, the airport authorities have recovered the aircraft&rsquo;s black box, which records vital flight and cockpit data. This will play a key role in determining the cause of the crash.
Preliminary findings suggest the possibility of a dual engine failure caused by bird hits shortly after takeoff. However, officials stress that investigations are ongoing, and no official cause has been confirmed yet.
Emergency services, including fire brigades and multiple teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), continue to work tirelessly at the crash site. The damaged building is reportedly unstable and at risk of collapse, making rescue efforts more challenging.
Further updates are expected as authorities continue rescue and investigation operations.

Flight AI-171 crashes into intern doctors' hostel; fire, deaths, and robbery shock Ahmedabad

Air India Jet Hits Hostel, Loot Reported at Site

Flight AI-171 crashes into intern doctors' hostel; fire, deaths, and robbery shock Ahmedabad

June 12, 2025 | 23:02 IST

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