Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Ahmedabad on Friday morning, visited the site of the tragic Air India Flight AI-171 crash, and later proceeded to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital to meet with survivors who were injured in the devastating incident that occurred a day earlier.
He was accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol, and State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi during the hospital visit.
The Air India Boeing 787-8, operating as Flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday. Of the 242 people onboard, only one person—a British national of Indian origin—survived the horrific crash.
According to airline officials, the aircraft was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national. The aircraft was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with 8,200 hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 hours.
Air Traffic Control (ATC) confirmed that the plane departed at 1:39 PM IST from Runway 23 and issued a Mayday call shortly afterward, but all contact was lost soon after. The aircraft crashed just outside the airport perimeter, with officials reporting thick black smoke from the site.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had also visited the crash site earlier and reviewed the situation with CM Bhupendra Patel. Shah stated there was “no chance of saving anyone” due to the extreme heat generated by the burning of nearly 125,000 litres of aviation fuel. He also revealed that DNA tests were being conducted to confirm identities, with around 1,000 samples processed so far.
“In just 10 minutes of the incident, we were informed. I alerted the Prime Minister, the state and civil aviation authorities. The Prime Minister responded immediately, and a joint rescue operation was initiated,” Shah told the media.
The aircraft crashed into a resident doctors’ hostel building, raising concerns about airport proximity and urban planning. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, has launched a formal investigation in accordance with international aviation protocols laid out by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Union Minister Naidu confirmed on Thursday that a high-level expert committee will be constituted to review the incident and recommend measures to enhance aviation safety.
In addition, the US-based National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is preparing to send a team of investigators to India to assist with the probe.
To support families of the victims, Air India’s parent company Tata Group has announced Rs 1 crore compensation for each bereaved family. The airline has also set up dedicated helpline numbers:
- India Toll-Free: 1800 5691 444
- International: +91 8062779200
The crash has triggered nationwide mourning and renewed focus on aviation safety protocols, emergency preparedness, and international cooperation in accident investigations.
