In brief
The rapid growth of urban areas around India's airports poses serious safety risks. Following a tragic Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad, concerns are rising about the proximity of homes to busy runways, illustrating the consequences of unchecked urban expansion.
Bhavesh Patni was in for a shocking afternoon when an Air India flight took off from a nearby runway in Ahmedabad and tragically crashed into a medical college, claiming the lives of 241 passengers and 34 others on the ground. With densely populated neighborhoods surrounding these busy airports, residents like Patni face significant risks during takeoffs and landings—the most dangerous phases of any flight. India's expanding aviation sector has seen air passenger traffic double in the last decade, underscoring a growing appetite for air travel. However, this growth has often been layered over urban infrastructures that cannot keep pace. Cities across the nation, teeming with over 1.4 billion residents, have seen rapid development with little regard for aviation safety, leaving residents vulnerable to the dangers flying imposes.
