An Indian passenger, Akash Vatsa, has revealed that he noticed several “unusual things” about the Air India Boeing 787 aircraft that crashed on Thursday at London’s Gatwick Airport, United Kingdom, with at least 241 people onboard.
Vatsa, who had flown on the same aircraft just two hours prior to the fatal incident, disclosed that the plane’s air conditioning system and other electronic components were not functioning properly during his journey.
In a video and a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, Vatsa shared his unsettling experience. He recounted boarding the flight at Delhi Airport and disembarking at Ahmedabad Airport before the ill-fated leg of the journey. 
“I was on the same damn flight 2 hours before it took off from AMD. I came in on this from DEL-AMD. Noticed unusual things in the plane,” he wrote.
Reports indicate the Air India flight lost signal shortly after departing Ahmedabad. The aircraft was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese passengers, and one Canadian.
According to The Indian Express, only one person survived out of the 242 passengers onboard, with 241 feared dead in what is being called one of the worst aviation disasters in recent Indian history.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the tragedy as “heartbreaking beyond words.”
Air India, in an official statement on X, confirmed that a special support team had been dispatched to Ahmedabad to assist local staff and authorities.
“A special team of carers from Air India has arrived in Ahmedabad to provide support to our teams on the ground. We are working closely with local authorities to offer all necessary assistance and are fully cooperating with the investigation,” the airline stated.
World leaders, including Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have extended heartfelt condolences to Prime Minister Modi and the families of the victims.
