Nairobi, June 13-At least 290 people have died after Air India Flight 171 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday morning, authorities have confirmed.
The London-bound flight was headed to Gatwick Airport when it went down moments after departure, crashing into the BJ Medical College and Hospital hostel nearby. Rescue efforts are ongoing, and the death toll is expected to rise.
Among the victims was London-based doctor Pratik Joshi, who was traveling with his wife, Dr. Komi Vyas, and their three children. The family had long planned to reunite and start a new life in the UK. Just two days earlier, Dr. Vyas had resigned from her job in India. The family sent a selfie to relatives before boarding, excited for the journey ahead.
“All five of them were filled with hope. It was their dream,” a relative said.
The crash also killed several people on the ground, including at least three medical students from the hostel and injured over 30 others, according to the Indian Medical Association. Victims included Indian, British, Canadian, and Portuguese nationals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called the incident a national tragedy and promised a full investigation. Aviation authorities are working to recover the black box to determine the cause of the crash.
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