Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the Air India AI-171 crash site in Ahmedabad on Friday morning, joining rescue and investigation efforts following the nation’s worst aviation disaster in recent years. He was accompanied by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, amid a heavy security presence.
The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating Flight AI-171 to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. A British national of Indian origin miraculously survived and is receiving treatment.
Upon arrival in Ahmedabad, PM Modi was received by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu, and Union Minister CR Paatil.
The ill-fated aircraft was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with over 8,200 hours of flight experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 flying hours. According to Air Traffic Control (ATC) records, the plane took off from Runway 23 at 1339 IST (0809 UTC), issued a Mayday call, and then lost contact before crashing outside the airport perimeter.
The plane struck a resident doctors’ hostel building, sparking a massive fire reportedly fueled by 1.25 lakh litres of aviation fuel, as noted by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who also visited the site and reviewed rescue efforts.
Shah said the high-intensity blaze left little chance of survival for most passengers, while nearly 1,000 DNA tests are underway to formally identify victims. He also detailed the immediate response: “Within 10 minutes of the crash, key central and state authorities were alerted and deployed,” Shah told reporters.
The passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian national.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a formal probe into the crash, in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines. Civil Aviation Minister Naidu confirmed that a high-level expert committee will also be formed to assess the causes and recommend steps to improve aviation safety.
In addition, the United States’ National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is preparing to send a team to assist with the investigation, given the aircraft’s Boeing make and international route.
Meanwhile, the Tata Group, which owns Air India, has announced Rs 1 crore compensation for each victim’s family and has activated emergency helplines:
- India: 1800 5691 444
- Outside India: +91 8062779200
Efforts continue to clear the crash site, and officials say the final casualty count and identifications will be confirmed only after full debris clearance and forensic analysis.