How Did a Plane Crash Turn a 150-Year-Old Medical Institution Into a War Zone?

AHMEDABAD, India, June 12, 2025— Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 242 souls, plummeted into a doctors’ hostel just minutes after takeoff, killing over 100 and shattering a medical community.

Catastrophe at B.J. Medical College

The plane slammed into the dining area of B.J. Medical College’s hostel, home to senior resident doctors and students, sparking a massive fireball fueled by the jet’s long-haul load. At least five students died, and 50 to 60 were rushed to hospitals, with two in intensive care, per India’s FAIMA.

Debris pierced the hostel’s walls, leaving food untouched on plates as chaos erupted. The crash site, now a charred ruin, holds grim evidence of lives cut short.

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Survivors’ Tales of Terror

Ramila’s son, a medical student, escaped by leaping from the second-floor window during his lunch break, suffering injuries but surviving. “I spoke to him; he’s safe,” she told ANI, her relief tinged with shock. Others weren’t as lucky, with reports of missing relatives and doctors.

Local politician Darshna Vaghela described hearing a "loud thud" that shook her office, which is located nearby. Rescue teams, comprising 130 Indian Army personnel, have cleared 70 to 80 percent of the wreckage, frantically searching for survivors.

A Community in Mourning

The hostel, a hub for Ahmedabad’s future doctors, now stands as a symbol of loss. Over 100 bodies, many charred, arrived at the local hospital, with police fearing no survivors from the flight. The crash’s toll extends beyond the 242 passengers, including 169 Indians and 53 Britons, to the medical community and Meghani Nagar residents.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the tragedy “heartbreaking beyond words,” vowing support as emergency teams toil. The nation grieves for its lost healers and travelers.

Did you know?
The B.J. Medical College, founded in 1871, is one of India’s oldest medical institutions, training generations of doctors until this tragic crash struck its heart.

Healing a Wounded City

Rescue operations continue with over 700 personnel, including NDRF and Coast Guards, battling the fire-ravaged site. Ahmedabad’s airport has resumed limited flights, but the focus remains on recovery. The DGCA and Boeing are probing the crash, the first for a 787 Dreamliner, as families await news via Air India’s hotline (1800 5691 444). With global leaders like King Charles offering condolences, Ahmedabad faces a long road to recovery.