- The whole country and beyond must have felt numbed and dumbstruck by the crash of ill-fated AI-171 Boeing 787 Dreamliner flying from Ahmedabad to London, killing 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 33 civilians when the aircraft fell on an adjoining building housing medical doctors and students. That the flight failed to gain thrust within a few seconds of take-off meant the lives of all those travelling in the safest aircraft were snuffed away in a matter of 30 seconds. The horrifying and spine-chilling videos of the aircraft sliding away and hitting the nearby building were captured by CCTV cameras and smartphones of people watching the take-off, which will make anyone go horror-struck. Mind you, air travel is considered the safest mode of transportation.
PC: CBS News
- However, there was no chance of survival since the aircraft was fully loaded with fuel for the long-haul flight. The crash simply ensured the heat generated from the explosion completely singed the passengers beyond recognition in no time. Just so you know, as per newspaper reports, Indian roads account for 476 killings per day. As compared to these unbelievably high numbers, the deadly crash of the aircraft is the first such accident this century in India. Undoubtedly, the safety aspects of air travel have increased manifold over the years, with accidents resulting in deaths becoming extremely rare. However, the Dreamliner crash at Ahmedabad must be considered the most devastating, with only one survivor reported among the passengers.
PC: CBS News
- What caused the debilitating crash will be best left for the technical experts and aviation officials to mull over during the investigation. However, life’s uncertainty, resulting in events for the worst in a matter of seconds, would be dwelt on in the subsequent paragraph. It’s inconceivable to even contemplate what must have gone through the minds of passengers who were flying out with so many expectations, aspirations, dreams, and promises of a better future. The more one reads about the killed passengers, the gut-wrenching sensation and numbness are bound to increase since some of them were travelling to start afresh after waiting for years. Remember, Indians are an emotional lot, and even families must have been fully involved in the preparations to fly out.
PC: USA Today
- Elderly parents, young married couples, families with children, businessmen/women, an ex-CM, students, and the list will go on, simply representing the various aspects of our societal structure, turning to ashes because of the crash in seconds. What to say about the pilots and the crew members who too were carrying out the entrusted responsibilities with great pride, but perished in seconds owing to the crash. One cannot help but become teary-eyed reading poignant stories about how some of the passengers had made plans to start life afresh after waiting for years to ensure everything falls in place. Nonetheless, fate and destiny always have different plans for each, as can be witnessed with the tragedy beyond comprehension striking so unexpectedly. Expect the unexpected from transient life, as nothing can be taken for granted here. May the departed souls rest in peace!
