National Mourning: PM Modi at Site as Air India Crash Kills 241

In a devastating turn of events, Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, claiming the lives of 241 people. The catastrophic incident, which saw the aircraft plummet into a medical college campus in the Meghaninagar area, has sent shockwaves across the nation and garnered international attention.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing profound grief and solidarity with the victims and their families, swiftly visited the crash site in Ahmedabad today. Accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, PM Modi surveyed the wreckage, a stark scene of charred debris and devastation, and assessed the ongoing rescue and recovery operations. He later proceeded to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital to meet with the injured and offer his condolences to the bereaved families. In a statement on X, the Prime Minister conveyed his heartbreak, stating, “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it.”

The ill-fated flight, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, reportedly issued a “Mayday” distress call just moments after takeoff, signaling a critical emergency, before all contact was lost with air traffic control. Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene, with the plane losing altitude rapidly before crashing into the BJ Medical College, igniting a massive fireball intensified by the aircraft’s heavy fuel load for the long-haul journey. Reports indicate that only one passenger, a British national of Indian origin, miraculously survived the crash.

The impact of the crash was immense, not only affecting those on board but also causing casualties and injuries on the ground. Several medical students from the college are among the deceased, and many more were injured as parts of the plane’s body scattered across the building. Emergency services, including multiple National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, fire engines, ambulances, and police units, were immediately mobilized for rescue and relief operations, working tirelessly to clear the wreckage and search for any survivors.

In the aftermath, Air India has established Friends & Relatives Assistance Centres at Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, and London Gatwick airports to provide support to the families of those affected. Tata Sons, the parent company of Air India, has announced a compensation of ₹1 crore (approximately $116,795) for the families of each deceased passenger, also pledging to cover medical expenses for the injured.

A formal investigation into the crash has been launched by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with a high-level team dispatched to Ahmedabad. International assistance has also been offered, with the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sending teams to support the Indian-led inquiry. Preliminary reports indicate that the 12-year-old Boeing 787 Dreamliner reached an altitude of barely 425 feet before stalling and crashing, with some early analysis suggesting potential issues with flap configuration during takeoff. The probe will examine all possible factors, including technical faults, pilot actions, and environmental conditions.

This tragedy marks one of India’s deadliest single-aircraft disasters and is the first recorded crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. It brings back painful memories of previous aviation accidents in the country, including the 2010 Air India Express crash in Mangalore that killed 158, and the 2020 Air India Express crash in Kozhikode which claimed 21 lives. The incident has once again highlighted the critical importance of robust aviation safety protocols, operational oversight, and airport infrastructure in India’s rapidly expanding air travel sector. The focus now remains on the ongoing investigation to determine the exact cause of this tragic accident and to implement measures to prevent such devastating events in the future.