Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the Air India crash site in Ahmedabad today, following the tragic accident involving Flight AI-171, which claimed the lives of 241 people, including 12 crew members. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London, crashed shortly after take-off, plummeting into a residential hostel near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who rushed to Ahmedabad soon after the incident, confirmed that the intense blaze—fueled by nearly 1.25 lakh litres of aviation fuel—left no chance of survival for most passengers. He also revealed that over 1,000 DNA tests would be needed to officially confirm all the fatalities.
“There was no scope of survival due to the extreme temperature from the burning fuel,” Mr Shah stated during a press interaction. He added that Prime Minister Modi was immediately informed and the Union and state agencies launched a joint rescue and relief operation within minutes of the crash.
The aircraft, piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal—a Line Training Captain with over 8,000 hours of experience—and co-piloted by First Officer Clive Kundar, had issued a distress (Mayday) call moments after departure at 1:39 PM IST. Soon after, it lost all communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC) and crashed outside the airport perimeter.
Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been tasked with leading the formal investigation, in compliance with global standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
In a significant development, Naidu also announced the formation of a high-level multidisciplinary committee to probe the causes behind the crash and suggest reforms to enhance aviation safety. “This panel will not only determine the cause but will also focus on broader safety mechanisms,” he said in a post on X.
A technical team from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to arrive in India soon to assist with the investigation, particularly because the aircraft was a U.S.-manufactured Boeing Dreamliner.
In a rare but heartening update, Air India confirmed that one passenger—a British national of Indian origin—miraculously survived the crash. Authorities are keeping the identity of the survivor confidential as they recover.
Flight AI-171 was carrying passengers from multiple nationalities, including 169 Indians, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian national. The Tata Group, which owns Air India, has announced a compensation of ?1 crore for the families of each deceased passenger and has activated helpline numbers for families seeking information.
The crash has sent shockwaves across the country, and the Prime Minister’s visit underscores the gravity of the tragedy and the Centre’s commitment to ensuring a thorough, transparent probe.