A tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad has claimed nearly 270 lives, including 15-year-old Akash Patni, who wasn’t even inside the plane or the hostel building it hit. Instead, he was sleeping under a tree near his family’s tea stall when the Air India jet crashed nearby, marking India’s worst air disaster in three decades.

Crash Victim Not Onboard or Inside Hostel

The London-bound Air India Flight AI-171 took off on Thursday afternoon. Just 33 seconds later, it crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel. Akash Patni was near the crash zone, resting under a tree beside the tea cart his family had run for 30 years. His brother, Kalpesh, said, “She literally came out alive from the fireball but Akash wasn’t as lucky.” Akash's mother, Sita, managed to escape the flames but suffered severe burns and is being treated in the ICU.

Charred Bodies and Chaos at Crash Site

As forensic teams searched through the wreckage on Friday, authorities worked to identify the remains. “The death toll based on the bodies recovered so far would be between 265 and 270,” said Kanan Desai, deputy commissioner of police in Ahmedabad.

According to officials, eight victims have been identified and returned to their families. They included four medical students from BJ Medical College, two of their relatives, and two others. However, the state did not release their names.

Dr. Meenakshi Parikh, dean of the medical college, confirmed that “four doctors and two of their family members have died in the crash.” She added that six or seven mess workers were also missing.

Locals Still Searching for Missing Loved Ones

Ravi Thakor, who works in the college dining hall, said, “At the time of the crash, my mother Sarla and daughter Aadya were in the mess. It has been 24 hours but I have not got any clue about what has happened to them.” Meanwhile, officials said three people from the nearby slums are also missing.

Sahana Ren, a mess worker who survived the crash, said, “I know a woman and her grandmother missing since the crash. I have not been able to find my sister-in-law also.” She had been in the mess hall along with 50 others when the plane hit the roof.

“I was on the second floor when the plane hit,” Ren told Hindustan Times. “The roof began collapsing immediately under the enormous weight of the aircraft. Within moments, everything went dark as smoke filled the air.”

Plane Lost Control Seconds After Takeoff

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had just taken off from Ahmedabad airport at 1:38 p.m. The aircraft was carrying almost 125,000 litres of fuel. According to Flightradar24, the plane reached a height of just 625 feet and was flying at 174 knots before it plummeted and exploded.

The aircraft crashed barely 3 km from the airport. The rear part of the plane, including its tail cone and stabilizers, landed on the hostel’s rooftop. “I could not find a single body in one piece,” said Girish Vanjara, a hospital official who visited the scene.

Hospitals Overwhelmed as DNA Tests Begin

Ahmedabad Civil Hospital has taken in about 50 injured victims. Of those, 31 are still hospitalized while 16 received outpatient treatment. Twelve are expected to be discharged soon.

Meanwhile, the government is collecting DNA samples from relatives to identify the dead. “Relatives of around 219 victims of the plane crash had come forward for DNA testing and blood sample collection,” said an official statement. Ten Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams with 36 experts are working around the clock to complete identification.

Dr. Rakesh Joshi, superintendent of the Civil Hospital, said final numbers will only be confirmed after the DNA process, which could take up to 72 hours.

Survivors and Eyewitnesses Speak

Rajeshbhai Patni, a 47-year-old auto driver, was near the hostel during the crash. “I saw the plane exploding when it hit the roof. I saw red and black flames emerging from the building." Additionally he said, "I left my auto rickshaw and ran for my life.” He is currently being treated for injuries to his chest and legs.

Kalpesh Patni, who lost his younger brother Akash, recalled getting a phone call at 1:30 p.m. about the crash. “It was business as usual. My mother and brother were working at the tea stall. We never imagined something like this could happen.”