Investigators search the scene of the Indian Air crash for evidence and more victims
Investigators searched the site of one of India's worst aviation disasters, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the lonely passenger on Friday, a Air India plane took apart and fell from the sky, killing 241 people, 241 people on board and several on the ground.
The London-bound Boeing 787 attacked a medical school hotel when it took off Thursday in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad.
DNA testing is being conducted to identify most charred bodies. More victims are expected to be found in searches at the crash site. There is no information on whether the black box has been restored (flight data and cockpit recorder).
The plane crashed into a building with a medical college hotel and exploded, killing several college students on the ground. Black smoke rolls from the crash site near Ahmedabad Airport, with cities in Ahmedabad exceeding 5 million, and the state of Gujarat Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“We all destroyed us by the tragedy of the air in Ahmedabad. It's beyond words to die in such a sudden and heartbreaking way,” Modi said on social media after visiting the website. “We understand their pain and we also know that the gaps that will be left in the years to come.”
Modi meets a lonely survivor
Survivors were treated for burns and other injuries at the Modi Conference meeting in government hospitals at the TV video recording conference.
Viswashkumar Ramesh told India's national broadcaster that he still couldn't believe he was still alive. He said the plane seemed to be in trouble immediately after takeoff. He said, then the lights were on and then it accelerated, but it seemed impossible to get altitude before the crash.
A fire crash in western India left a surviving passenger, a British national, reportedly walking from the scene to an ambulance. The Boeing 787, a London-bound Indian company, included at least one Canadian after taking off with 242 people.
He said the plane he was sitting on landing on the side of the building's ground floor, with room to escape after the door broke. He untied his seat belt and forced himself to leave the plane.
“When I opened my eyes, I realized I was still alive,” he said.
Investigate the causes and confirmation of victims
India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Agency is investigating and participants in the U.S. investigation are expected to include personnel from the National Transportation Safety Commission, the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing and General Electric.
Akshay Dongardiv, president of the All-Indian Federation of Medical Associations, said medical staff were conducting DNA tests to identify those killed. Meanwhile, the sad family gathered outside the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on Friday.
The bodies of four medical students died on the ground after handing over the plane crash to their families, two doctors at the hospital said. They said at least 30 injured students were still taken to the hospital, with at least four of them being crucial.
Modi is scheduled to hold a meeting with senior officials later on Friday. During his visit to the hospital, he also met some injured people.
Boeing has pledged to support an Indian-led investigation into the deadly air disaster in Ahmedabad, the first to involve 787 Dreamliner. Boeing has previously encountered tough problems in several crashes and incidents involving its 737 Max aircraft.
Thursday's Air India crash involved a 12-year-old Boeing 787. Boeing aircraft plagues safety issues for other types of aircraft.
According to experts, about 1,200 of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide are currently in operation, the first fatal crash in 16 years.
Witness account describes damage
Residents living nearby were the first to arrive at the crash site and help rescue, describing the scale of damage that they had never seen before.
“In the beginning, I knew nothing, there was only smoke everywhere. We could see some small parts (of the plane) burning,” Indrajeet Singh Solanki said.
Solanki said he and many others helped the injured and took them to the hospital. “We have only one goal – we can save lives no matter what happens.”
The tragedy shook him. “It's hard to fall asleep for the next few days at least,” Solanki said.
