In the aftermath of one of India's worst aviation disasters, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ahmedabad on Friday morning to assess the damage and express solidarity with the victims of the devastating Air India crash that claimed 241 lives.
PM Modi, accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, and Union Minister C.R. Paatil, visited the crash site in Meghani Nagar where the Air India London-bound flight AI171 went down shortly after takeoff on Thursday afternoon. The aircraft crashed into a medical college hostel, triggering panic in the densely populated locality.
The Prime Minister later visited the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where several injured victims are currently receiving treatment. Officials said Modi personally spoke to the survivors and their families, assuring them of every possible assistance.
The ill-fated Boeing aircraft had taken off from Ahmedabad International Airport at 1:39 PM IST (0809 UTC) and was en route to Gatwick Airport in London. According to Air Traffic Control (ATC), the plane issued a distress call — a Mayday — moments before contact was lost.
Onboard the flight were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national. In what is being described as a miracle, a single passenger — a British national of Indian origin — survived the crash. Air India confirmed the survival, saying, “We are in touch with the family of the lone survivor and offering all support.”
Tragically, the crash also claimed the lives of at least five medical students residing in the hostel struck by the aircraft. Emergency responders and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) spent hours sifting through the rubble to recover bodies and rescue the injured.
The aircraft was being commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned Line Training Captain with over 8,200 flight hours. He was assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 hours of flying experience.
Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu stated during his visit, “This is a moment of deep national sorrow. We will conduct a fair and thorough investigation to determine what caused this crash.”
