Air India hits doctors' hostel in Ahmedabad; theft reported at rescue site

Ahmedabad: An Air India flight bound for London’s Gatwick Airport crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, slamming into a residential hostel for intern doctors and triggering a devastating fire. The incident led to the immediate suspension of all airport operations and has left the city in shock.

Flight AI-171, which had just taken off, struck the third, fourth, and fifth floors of the multi-storey hostel building located near Meghani Nagar. The crash caused a catastrophic blaze that rapidly spread through the structure, which housed over 50 occupants, including young medical interns and their families.

Eyewitnesses recounted harrowing scenes of people leaping from windows to escape the flames. “A man threw his child from the fourth floor in a desperate attempt to save her,” one local said, while a woman who jumped from the same floor suffered critical injuries.

As of late Thursday, authorities had not released official casualty figures, but preliminary reports suggest at least eight to nine people may have died, with dozens more injured or unaccounted for. The intensity of the fire left several individuals trapped inside the hostel, and rescue teams were still working to recover those missing.

In a disturbing turn, reports emerged of theft during the rescue operation. Safes, mobile phones, cash, and jewellery were allegedly looted by individuals masquerading as volunteers. This has sparked widespread outrage among the public and officials, adding a grim layer to an already tragic incident.

Meanwhile, the Airport Authority confirmed the recovery of the aircraft’s black box, which contains vital flight data and cockpit communication. Investigators believe a double engine failure due to bird hits might have led to the crash, though this is yet to be verified.

Relief efforts continued through the evening, with fire brigades, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel, and emergency responders working tirelessly amid concerns that the heavily damaged building could collapse. Rescue operations remain ongoing as the investigation progresses.

With IANS inputs