By More than 200 feared dead: There were 242 passengers and crew members aboard the Air India flight, the airline said. While a city police commissioner told The Associated Press that there appears to be no survivors, the CEO of Air India said injured passengers have been taken to local hospitals. A doctors’ group said at least four students staying at the hostel are missing following the crash.
• Boeing’s response: The plane was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, according to Flightradar24. It’s the first major incident involving the aircraft, and Boeing said it is ready to support Air India.
• Safety record: Air India has seen a few rare but high-profile plane crashes through the years. Previous accidents have spurred Indian authorities to improve its safety and infrastructure, but challenges remain.
Tata Group, the owner of Air India and one of India’s largest conglomerates, has said it will provide ₹1 crore ($116,868) to the families of each person who has lost their life in the Ahmedabad plane crash, the company announced in a post on X.
“We will also cover the medical expenses of those injured and ensure that they receive all necessary care and support,” it added. “Additionally we will provide support in the building up of the B J Medical’s hostel.”
Some background: Air India was bought by Indian multinational conglomerate Tata Group in 2022, and was widely regarded as a historic homecoming. Originally founded by J.R.D. Tata in 1932 before being nationalized in 1953, the deal marked the return of Air India to its original owners after nearly 70 years of government control.
