Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited the site of the Air India AI-171 plane crash in Ahmedabad to assess the on-ground situation, a day after the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner tragically crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
The Prime Minister arrived in Ahmedabad earlier in the day and was briefed by officials at the crash site, where the aircraft carrying 242 passengers and crew went down just outside the airport perimeter. He was accompanied by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Gujarat State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and senior officials during the site inspection.
Following the ground assessment, PM Modi proceeded to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where he met with the sole survivor of the crash—a British national of Indian origin—and enquired about their recovery. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Ministers CR Paatil and Kinjarapu welcomed the Prime Minister upon arrival.
The aircraft, piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal with over 8,200 hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar, with 1,100 hours, took off from Runway 23 at 1:39 PM IST. It issued a Mayday call to Air Traffic Control shortly after takeoff but then lost contact. The crash resulted in heavy black smoke billowing from the scene.
Onboard the flight were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian national. Tragically, 241 people lost their lives, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent Indian history.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who also visited the crash site, said that due to the aircraft carrying approximately 125,000 litres of fuel, the resulting high temperature left no possibility of survival. Shah revealed that nearly 1,000 DNA tests are being conducted to confirm victims’ identities and that official casualty figures would be released once the identification process is complete.
“In just 10 minutes of the incident, we were informed. I contacted the Prime Minister, the Gujarat Home Minister, and other relevant authorities. Immediate rescue and relief operations were launched in coordination between Union and state teams,” Shah stated.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), operating under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, has begun a formal investigation into the crash, in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) protocols. Union Minister Naidu confirmed the establishment of a high-level committee of multidisciplinary experts to recommend measures to improve aviation safety.
Meanwhile, the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is preparing to send investigators to India to assist with the ongoing probe.
Air India, owned by the Tata Group, has announced a compensation of ₹1 crore for the families of each deceased passenger. The airline has also launched dedicated helpline numbers for updates and assistance:
- India Toll-Free: 1800 5691 444
- International: +91 8062779200
The incident has prompted a national outpouring of grief and a renewed call for bolstering aviation infrastructure and crisis preparedness across India.
