Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Ahmedabad on Friday and visited the site where Air India's London-bound flight AI171 crashed. He also visited the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and met the injured undergoing treatment.
After reaching the Sardar Vallabhai Patel Airport in the morning, he left for the crash site at Meghaninagar area, accompanied by the Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi. The prime minister saw the flight's debris and took stock of the relief efforts.
"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," Modi tweeted after visiting the crash site.
At the Civil Hospital, the PM met and spoke to those who were injured in the crash. Modi also met Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the tragic crash, a British national of Indian origin.
Earlier today, the prime minister took to X to express his condolences saying that the tragedy was “…heart-breaking beyond words." He added that he sends his thoughts to everyone affected. The PM also reassured that they’re in touch with the ministers and that “authorities working to assist those affected.”
The crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flight claimed the lives of 241 onboard, including 12 crew members on Thursday. The flight rammed into BJ Medical College hostel, killing four medical students and the spouse of a doctor at the accommodation. The flight was en route to London Gatwick crashed merely a minute after taking to the air, at around 1.30pm on Thursday.
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According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the flight was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal who had about 8,200 hours of flying experience. The first officer, Clive Kundar, had 1,100 hours of flying experience.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a formal investigation into the cause of the incident. Experts from the US and the UK will be assisting India in the probe.
