Black Day for Medical Fraternity: Doctors Mourn Loss in Air India Plane Crash at BJ Medical College

Ahmedabad: It was a regular afternoon at Ahmedabad's BJ Medical College, where intern doctors and medical students were having lunch in their hostel mess. But in a matter of seconds, the atmosphere was disastrous - Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 242 people, crashed straight into the hostel building.

Witnesses at the scene recall hearing a loud explosion, followed by screams and chaos. Images inside the hostel went viral on social media, showing plates of half-eaten food lying scattered, untouched, which proved that the plane had crashed when the doctors were having their midday meal. 

The tragedy unfolded just 32 seconds after the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 PM. Eyewitnesses and video footage show the aircraft failing to gain lift before plunging into the BJ Medical College Hostel and bursting into flames. Before the incident, the pilots had sent a Mayday call shortly after take-off, but it was too late. 

Also read- Heartbreaking Selfie Before Tragedy: Udaipur Doctor Couple, 3 kids killed in Air India plane crash

As per TNIE news report, the plane slammed into the Atulya residential blocks—Atulya 1, 2, 3, and 4—where 50 to 60 intern and resident doctors were reportedly resting. The impact was so strong that it destroyed parts of the hostel building into rubble and debris. According to eyewitnesses, the building erupted in flames upon impact, tearing through the concrete and instantly killing many inside. Soon, fire brigade and ambulance crews rushed to the scene. 

The scene was too gruesome to watch, and clips of the horrific sights also went viral on social media. Describing the chilling scenes, the emergency team said that bodies were mutilated, some intern doctors charred and crushed under concrete debris, others found in pieces, adds the New Indian Express

Residents, in shock, told the media that the aircraft hit the very heart of the doctors' living quarters. “The plane fell directly on the building where young doctors were staying. The entire hostel has turned into a graveyard,” one eyewitness recounted, standing near an ambulance that reached minutes after the crash.

So far, the exact number of doctors and students who lost their lives in the plane crash has not been confirmed. 

Aftermath caught on camera

Short clips and photos taken by nearby residents, staff, and first responders show the shocking aftermath of the incident, which soon began surfacing online. Filmed on a mobile phone camera, the video reveals major damage inside the hostel, with broken ceilings, hanging wires, and aircraft parts scattered around. 

People can be seen moving through the debris, possibly helping or checking for survivors. The video then shows more damage - piles of rubble, broken furniture, and shattered walls.

Another image shows lunch plates lying in the middle of the wreckage, but only the students were missing, with some injured from the accident and others completely gone forever. 

The tragedy has left the medical community across the country in mourning. Young doctors, who once dreamt of saving lives, became victims of a disaster they never saw coming.

Reacting to this, National Spokesperson, Indian Medical Association JDN, Dr Dhruv Chauhan said in a post on 'X', "It’s a black day for the Indian Medical fraternity. My hand trembles as I write this knowing that the Air India flight crash on BJMC medical college UG hostel in Ahmedabad has cost us the lives of our Medical students , Doctors and other horrifying casualties. It was during the lunch hours and The Medical students were in their mess while the tragedy happened."

“We are deeply shocked about the news of AI flight crashing in Ahmedabad! News has become more gruesome after finding out that flight had crashed in BJMC, Hostel & many MBBS students have also been injured!!!! We are monitoring the situation closely & are ready for any help!," said FAIMA Doctors Association.

The Maharashtra Senior Resident Doctor Association (MSRDA) also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the tragic plane crash that occurred yesterday in Ahmedabad. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of all the passengers who lost their lives in this unfortunate incident. We are especially heartbroken at the loss of young, budding doctors from BJMC Ahmedabad — the future of our nation's healthcare — whose lives were cut short in this tragedy. Their absence will be deeply felt across the medical fraternity. Resident doctors across Maharashtra stand in solidarity with our fellow colleagues in Gujarat and with the citizens affected by this calamity. MSRDA assures that resident doctors in Maharashtra are ready to extend any assistance required — be it medical, emotional, or logistical — to support those impacted. In these difficult times, unity, empathy, and prompt support are our greatest strengths. Let us all come together to honour those lost and help the survivors and their families navigate through this tragedy," their statement read.

Also read- Breaking News: Air India Plane Crashes into Ahmedabad's BJ Medical College Hostel