Air India Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson visited the crash site of flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad on Friday, a day after the catastrophic incident claimed 241 lives, including 12 crew members.
In a statement issued post-midnight on Friday, Air India confirmed that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI-171, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12.
“The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hours, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off. We regret to confirm that of the 242 people aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is currently receiving treatment at a hospital,” the airline said in a post on X.
The aircraft, bound for London Gatwick, had passengers of multiple nationalities, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian national.
The plane crashed into a residential building—a doctors’ hostel—just outside the airport perimeter, triggering a massive emergency response. Miraculously, one passenger, a British national of Indian origin, survived and is undergoing medical treatment.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson personally assessed the crash site, met with rescue officials, and expressed the airline’s deepest condolences to the families of the victims. He assured that Air India is cooperating fully with authorities and will extend all possible support to the bereaved families.
The crash has prompted a formal investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is working in coordination with international aviation authorities. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed the inquiry on Thursday, stating that the government is committed to determining the exact cause and preventing future tragedies.
The flight was commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with over 8,200 hours of flying experience, alongside First Officer Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 hours logged.
According to Air Traffic Control (ATC) records, the aircraft made a Mayday call shortly after takeoff from Runway 23 at 1339 IST (0809 UTC). It lost contact soon after and crashed outside the airport perimeter, sending plumes of black smoke into the air.
In a gesture of support, the Tata Group, which owns Air India, has announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of each deceased passenger.
As rescue and recovery operations continue, authorities urge families of victims to reach out to the airline’s helpline for further assistance.
