Asger Risom
Newly released video shows the moment the Air India flight loses thrust and crashes into a university residence, raising questions about what went wrong.
India is mourning one of the deadliest air disasters in its history. As authorities work to identify the victims and determine the cause, a new video has emerged that could shed light on the tragic final seconds of the doomed flight.
Jet crashes into college residence
A new video made public shows the Air India Boeing 787 struggling to gain altitude seconds after takeoff before plummeting into a university building. The crash killed at least 260 people, including over 20 on the ground.
The plane was carrying 242 passengers when it slammed into a student dormitory at BJ Medical College during the busy lunchtime period. The impact collapsed walls and embedded parts of the fuselage into the building.
Death toll exceeds passenger list
Rescue crews from India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) say recovery efforts are nearly complete. Interior Minister Amit Shah announced that DNA identification will begin shortly due to the extensive damage and number of victims.
Notably, the number of confirmed fatalities has already surpassed the number of passengers on board, pointing to substantial casualties among students and staff present at the crash site.
One miracle survivor
Despite the devastation, authorities report one unlikely survivor. Indian media have identified 38-year-old Ramesh Vishwakumar, a British citizen seated in 11A, as the only person found alive from the aircraft.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but early attention is focused on the aircraft’s loss of lift moments after takeoff. The new footage may prove vital in understanding the mechanical or procedural failure behind the disaster.
