PM Modi visits Ahmedabad crash site
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Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited the site of the devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 241 people. His visit came a day after the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off, making it one of the worst aviation disasters in Indian history.
Modi was received at Ahmedabad airport by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and Union Minister C.R. Paatil.
The Air India flight, operating as AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed into a hostel near BJ Medical College on Thursday afternoon, moments after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. On board were 242 people, 230 passengers, 10 crew members, and two pilots.
Tragically, 241 people lost their lives. Only one person survived, a British national of Indian origin seated in 11A, who is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.
The Prime Minister, who served as Gujarat’s Chief Minister for 12 years, had expressed his grief on X shortly after the crash, calling it “heartbreaking beyond words”. He added, “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it.”
A full-scale investigation is underway. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, has been tasked with leading the probe. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, who rushed to Ahmedabad from Vijayawada on Thursday, confirmed the investigation aligns with international protocols set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
“Following the tragic incident in Ahmedabad, a formal investigation has been initiated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), in line with international protocols set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Additionally, the Government is constituting a high-level committee comprising experts from multiple disciplines to examine the matter in detail. The committee will work to strengthen aviation safety and prevent such incidents in future," the minister posted on X.
Forensic teams have arrived at the crash site to begin evidence collection. Investigators are currently examining the aircraft’s black box to reconstruct the final moments of the flight.
Minister Naidu noted that the government's response would go beyond standard procedures. The high-level committee will include aviation safety experts, engineers, air traffic control professionals, and representatives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), aiming to address systemic issues and improve overall flight safety.
