An Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft crashed into the BJ Medical College complex in Ahmedabad on Friday, killing several people and injuring many others. According to the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA), at least five MBBS students, one PG resident doctor, and the wife of a superspecialist doctor were killed in the crash. Over 60 medical students were also reported injured.

The aircraft, which was bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed just minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The plane lost balance, crashed into the medical college complex, and burst into flames. There were 242 people on board, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members.

Lunch hour tragedy at boys' hostel

FAIMA national vice president Dr Divyansh Singh shared that the crash had a direct impact on the medical college's boys' hostel, where many students had gathered for lunch.
"As per the information I have received so far, the plane, after losing its balance, crashed over the boys' hostel building of the BJ Medical College. And as it was a lunchtime, most of the students and resident doctors were there for lunch," he said.

Dr Singh added that the search operation was still ongoing and many people were feared to be buried under the debris.
"Bodies that have been found were totally charred," he said, describing the severity of the impact and fire.

Unofficial reports suggest that up to 25 people within the medical complex may have died, but no official count had been released even hours after the crash.

Search for black box and emergency medical help

The authorities are also searching for the aircraft’s black box, which includes the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. These will help investigators understand what happened during the final moments of the flight. The cause of the crash is still not clear.

According to Air India, of the 230 passengers, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were British nationals, seven were Portuguese nationals, and one was a Canadian national. The 12-member crew included two pilots and ten other staff.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy.
"We extend our heartfelt prayers for the speedy recovery of all those injured," the IMA said in a statement.

A team of doctors from the IMA Gujarat branch, along with the IMA Medical Student Network, was sent to the crash site and City Hospital, Ahmedabad, to assist in providing emergency medical help.

"Ima stands in solidarity with the families of the victims during this difficult time. We are committed to providing all possible medical support and coordinating with local authorities for relief efforts. "This tragedy reminds us of the importance of rapid response and unified support in moments of national crisis," the statement added.

Rescue efforts continued late into the day as authorities worked through the wreckage, trying to find survivors and identify the deceased.

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