Air India Crash in Ahmedabad Kills Over 260 as PM Modi Visits Site
| 2025-06-14
PM Modi visits the site of the Air India plane crash, in Ahmedabad, Friday.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Ahmedabad crash site where an Air India Dreamliner crashed, killing over 260 people in one of India’s worst air disasters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ahmedabad on Friday to assess the aftermath of the Air India crash that has been described as one of the deadliest aviation tragedies in India’s recent history.
The aircraft, flight AI171, was en route to London Gatwick and crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport around 1:30pm on Thursday. The plane, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, came down in a densely populated area near the BJ Medical College in Meghaninagar, sparking a massive blaze.
Indian authorities confirmed that at least 265 people, including passengers, crew members, and residents on the ground, were killed in the accident. Air India stated that the plane was carrying 242 individuals — 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian — when it lost altitude and crashed minutes after departure.
Mr Modi, who previously served as Gujarat’s Chief Minister for over a decade, was accompanied on his visit by current Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The Prime Minister also met the lone survivor, British national of Indian origin Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who is being treated at a city hospital.
“This tragedy is heartbreaking beyond words,” Mr Modi said in a post on social media platform X. “My thoughts are with everyone affected. We understand their pain, and the void left behind will be felt for years.”
The Prime Minister held a high-level review meeting at the GujSail building near the airport with senior officials from the state government and emergency services. He was briefed on the sequence of events that led to the crash and the ongoing rescue and identification efforts.
High-Level Inquiry Ordered
India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, who visited the site on Thursday along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, announced the formation of a high-level investigative committee. The inquiry will examine technical and procedural aspects of the crash, including a reported 'Mayday' distress call made by the pilots moments before the impact.
According to Air Traffic Control in Ahmedabad, the pilots alerted the tower about an emergency situation seconds after takeoff. Aviation experts have suggested that a dual engine failure, potentially caused by bird strikes or mechanical failure, may have contributed to the rapid loss of altitude.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the aircraft was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had logged more than 8,200 flight hours. He was supported by First Officer Clive Kundar, with over 1,100 hours of experience.
Emergency responders, firefighters, and local police worked throughout Thursday and Friday to recover bodies from the crash site and surrounding buildings. Many of the victims had suffered severe burns. At least five medical students from BJ Medical College were killed, according to hospital officials.
The aircraft came down near the college hostel’s dining facility, causing fatalities not only among those onboard but also on the ground.
Context:
This incident is among the most severe air crashes in India since the Air India Express crash in Kozhikode in 2020, which killed 21 people. The crash in Ahmedabad has reignited concerns about aviation safety and emergency preparedness in urban zones near airports.
Air India, once India’s national carrier and now under the Tata Group, has faced mounting scrutiny over fleet maintenance and crew training in recent months.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation until the official investigation is completed. The government is expected to release a preliminary report within the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, messages of condolence have poured in from global leaders, and vigils are being held across India and in the UK, where dozens of British nationals were among the victims.
The aircraft, flight AI171, was en route to London Gatwick and crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport around 1:30pm on Thursday. The plane, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, came down in a densely populated area near the BJ Medical College in Meghaninagar, sparking a massive blaze.
Indian authorities confirmed that at least 265 people, including passengers, crew members, and residents on the ground, were killed in the accident. Air India stated that the plane was carrying 242 individuals — 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, 7 Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian — when it lost altitude and crashed minutes after departure.
Mr Modi, who previously served as Gujarat’s Chief Minister for over a decade, was accompanied on his visit by current Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The Prime Minister also met the lone survivor, British national of Indian origin Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who is being treated at a city hospital.
“This tragedy is heartbreaking beyond words,” Mr Modi said in a post on social media platform X. “My thoughts are with everyone affected. We understand their pain, and the void left behind will be felt for years.”
The Prime Minister held a high-level review meeting at the GujSail building near the airport with senior officials from the state government and emergency services. He was briefed on the sequence of events that led to the crash and the ongoing rescue and identification efforts.
High-Level Inquiry Ordered
India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, who visited the site on Thursday along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, announced the formation of a high-level investigative committee. The inquiry will examine technical and procedural aspects of the crash, including a reported 'Mayday' distress call made by the pilots moments before the impact.
According to Air Traffic Control in Ahmedabad, the pilots alerted the tower about an emergency situation seconds after takeoff. Aviation experts have suggested that a dual engine failure, potentially caused by bird strikes or mechanical failure, may have contributed to the rapid loss of altitude.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the aircraft was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had logged more than 8,200 flight hours. He was supported by First Officer Clive Kundar, with over 1,100 hours of experience.
Emergency responders, firefighters, and local police worked throughout Thursday and Friday to recover bodies from the crash site and surrounding buildings. Many of the victims had suffered severe burns. At least five medical students from BJ Medical College were killed, according to hospital officials.
The aircraft came down near the college hostel’s dining facility, causing fatalities not only among those onboard but also on the ground.
Context:
This incident is among the most severe air crashes in India since the Air India Express crash in Kozhikode in 2020, which killed 21 people. The crash in Ahmedabad has reignited concerns about aviation safety and emergency preparedness in urban zones near airports.
Air India, once India’s national carrier and now under the Tata Group, has faced mounting scrutiny over fleet maintenance and crew training in recent months.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation until the official investigation is completed. The government is expected to release a preliminary report within the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, messages of condolence have poured in from global leaders, and vigils are being held across India and in the UK, where dozens of British nationals were among the victims.
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