Air India Flight AI171 Crash: PM Modi Visits Ahmedabad Tragedy Site, Meets Survivors in Hospital

Ahmedabad, June 13 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ahmedabad on Friday morning to assess the aftermath of the devastating crash of Air India flight AI171, which claimed the lives of 241 people and left the nation in mourning.

The London-bound flight, which took off from Ahmedabad International Airport on Thursday afternoon at 1:39 PM IST, tragically crashed into a medical college hostel in the densely populated Meghani Nagar area shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, a Boeing wide-body jet, had issued a Mayday call to Air Traffic Control (ATC) moments before the crash.

The Prime Minister, accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, and Union Minister CR Paatil, visited the crash site to take stock of rescue and relief operations. He later met with survivors and families of the victims at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where several injured individuals are undergoing treatment.

The ill-fated AI171 was carrying 241 passengers and crew members, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national. Only one passenger — a British national of Indian origin — miraculously survived the tragedy.

Among the deceased were reportedly at least five students residing in the hostel building struck by the aircraft. Authorities have launched a detailed investigation into the incident, with preliminary reports suggesting a technical malfunction as a possible cause.

The aircraft was commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a Line Training Captain with over 8,200 flying hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had logged 1,100 flying hours.

Prime Minister Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident and assured all necessary support to the victims’ families. "This is a national tragedy. We stand united in grief and will ensure a thorough probe and the best possible care for those affected," he stated during his visit.

Emergency response teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), continue to work at the crash site, where debris clearance and identification efforts are ongoing. Air India and DGCA have promised full cooperation with the investigation.

The tragedy has sparked widespread condolences from across the globe, with several foreign governments reaching out to offer support and express sympathy for the victims' families.