A shocking new video has emerged from the scene of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, capturing the desperate attempts of students to escape a burning building. The Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, bound for London, crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12, 2025, killing 241 people on board and at least 30 on the ground. The aircraft slammed into the BJ Medical College hostel, igniting a massive fire that quickly engulfed the building.
The newly released footage shows students and staff jumping from the medical college building. Thick plumes of black smoke billow around the hostel as panicked students scramble to flee the inferno. Some are seen climbing down from windows and balconies, while others use makeshift ropes fashioned from tied-together bedsheets to descend from higher floors. The scenes reveal a desperate attempt to survive amid chaos, with students helping one another to escape the rapidly spreading fire. Several students were even seen perched on nearby trees, watching helplessly as the fire raged on.
Survivors recount the horror of the moment the plane crashed. Arun Prashant, a student at the BJ Medical College, said he was having lunch on the fifth floor when the aircraft struck the building. "We heard a loud noise and explosion," he said. "We were surrounded by smoke. I ran to the first floor and then jumped out of the building from there. Some families were inside the building around the crash. Only after we came out of the building did we come to know that it was a plane crash. Rescue came after 15-20 minutes of us standing outside. We were around 20-30 people."
Another survivor, Dr. Tarun, said that the fire was "intense" and it was "impossible" for him to leave his flat through the normal exits. "So, I jumped. That's how I survived," he said, adding that he sustained injuries to his arm due to the fall.
The crash has prompted a thorough investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), with international cooperation from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and the U.K. Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. Investigators have recovered both the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder, hoping to piece together the cause of the crash. Preliminary findings suggest a possible dual engine failure or a total electrical or hydraulic malfunction, as evidenced by the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a device that automatically deploys in such emergencies.
In the wake of the tragedy, Air India has cancelled several flights and increased safety checks for its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. The airline is also working to assist the families of the victims, providing accommodation, refunds, and alternative flights. DNA testing is underway to identify the victims, many of whom were charred beyond recognition. As of Tuesday morning, 135 DNA samples have been matched, and 101 bodies have been handed over to the respective families. Of these 101 deceased, five were not on board the flight.
The Ahmedabad plane crash has not only resulted in the loss of nearly all lives on board but also claimed the lives of dozens on the ground, including five medical students residing in the hostel. The tragedy has shaken the nation, raising serious questions about aviation safety and the reliability of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
