Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 13 (HBTV): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and met Vishwashkumar Ramesh, the lone survivor of the Air India flight AI-171 crash that occurred a day earlier, killing 241 others on board.
Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, was seated in row 11 at the left window seat in the economy class, located just behind an emergency exit. The ill-fated aircraft was carrying 242 passengers, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national, according to airline authorities.
The Prime Minister, who arrived in the city earlier on Friday, also visited other injured individuals admitted at the same hospital. The victims were injured when the London-bound Air India flight crashed into a medical college complex in Meghaninagar shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad International Airport.
Before reaching the hospital, PM Modi visited the crash site and reviewed the situation on the ground. He also held a meeting with officials at the Ahmedabad airport to assess the relief and investigation measures.
PM Modi shared images of his visit to the crash site on X, writing: ‘Visited the crash site in Ahmedabad today. The scene of devastation is saddening. Met officials and teams working tirelessly in the aftermath. Our thoughts remain with those who lost their loved ones in this unimaginable tragedy.’
In another post, he wrote: ‘We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words. Condolences to all the bereaved families. We understand their pain and also know that the void left behind will be felt for years to come. Om Shanti.’
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Union MoS Murlidhar Mohol, and State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi accompanied the Prime Minister during his visit.
The AI-171 Boeing Dreamliner 787-8, bound for London Gatwick, crashed minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad International Airport on Thursday. According to the airline, only one person survived the crash.
The aircraft was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with 8,200 hours of flight experience, and assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 flying hours.
Air Traffic Control (ATC) confirmed that the aircraft departed from runway 23 at 1339 IST (0809 UTC) and issued a Mayday call shortly after takeoff. However, the aircraft did not respond to subsequent ATC communications and crashed just outside the airport perimeter. Authorities reported heavy black smoke billowing from the crash site.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who met Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel to obtain details of the incident, stated that due to the high temperature generated by nearly 125,000 litres of burning fuel, there was virtually no chance of survival for those on board. Shah noted that approximately 1,000 DNA tests have been conducted so far to identify the victims.
‘The plane carried almost 125,000 litres of fuel, and due to the high temperature, there was no chance of saving anyone... I visited the crash site,’ the Home Minister told mediapersons.
‘Within ten minutes of the incident, we received information. I immediately informed the Prime Minister, the Gujarat Home Minister, the Control Room of the Home Department, the Civil Aviation Department, and the Civil Aviation Minister. The Prime Minister responded instantly, and personnel from both Union and state governments jointly launched relief and rescue operations,’ he added.
A formal investigation has been launched by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which operates under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, to determine the cause of the crash.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed that the investigation will adhere to international protocols established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). He further announced the formation of a high-level committee comprising multidisciplinary experts to assess the crash and recommend safety enhancements to prevent similar tragedies.
The US-based National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also preparing to send a team of investigators to assist with the inquiry into the Ahmedabad plane crash.
The Tata group, which owns Air India, has set up a dedicated hotline—1800 5691 444 for domestic callers and +91 8062779200 for international callers—to provide updates and support to affected families.
Additionally, the Tata Group has announced a compensation of INR 1 crore for the families of each individual who died in the crash.
(ANI)