Air India Plane Crash in Ahmedabad: Centre sets up high-level probe panel; report expected within 3 months

Gujarat relief commissioner and revenue secretary Alok Pandey, as per PTI, informed that the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation will issue a death certificate on the spot, soon after identification in order to avoid any administrative problem.

The village patwari can then immediately issue a family relation card so that they do not face any inheritance issue, he added. Teams have been formed and assigned to individual families with a rank of a deputy collector or tehsildar rank officer.

The scene outside the BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad showed lines of ambulances parked, waiting to take the identified bodies to the families in their respective districts with a police pilot.

With 241 passengers and several others on the ground losing their lives in the tragic crash on June 12, the Gujarat government has decided to assign grief counsellors to the families of victims, keeping in mind the impact of mental trauma due to such major accidents.

As many as 230 teams have been formed to coordinate with families of the victims, Gujarat relief commissioner and revenue secretary Alok Pandey was quoted as saying by news agency PTI on Saturday.

The high-level panel to probe the deadly Air India flight crash is likely to hold its first meeting on Monday. The committee, headed by the Union home secretary, is expected to submit within three months its report detailing the causes of the accident that killed 241 passengers and many more on the ground, Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu during a press briefing on Saturday. The ministry said in a statement that the panel “will focus on formulating SOPs for preventing and handling such occurrences in the future”.

As of 9 pm Saturday, the identities of 19 victims have been identified through DNA testing at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, Gujarat minister Harsh Sanghavi said. “Update as of 9:00 PM- 19 DNA samples have been matched so far, confirming the identities of victims. State Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) unit team and National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) team are working through the night to match more DNA samples,” he wrote in a post on X. Of those identified, one body, that of Poornima Patel from Dakor, was handed over to her relatives on Saturday afternoon. the bodies of eight victims, who were identified by their relatives and did not need DNA profiling, have already been handed over to their families.

Rajkot city in Gujarat observed a half-day shutdown on Saturday to pay tribute to former chief minister Vijay Rupani who died in the Ahmedabad plane crash.

Rajkot is the hometown of Rupani. From a common BJP worker, he went on to become councillor, mayor, MLA two times from Rajkot West and then CM for two terms between 2016 and 2021. — PTI

Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on Saturday graced a special prayer ceremony in memory of the lives lost in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.

A statement on the King's official Facebook page said a special prayer ceremony was held at the Grand Kuenrey of the Tashichodzong in memory of those who were killed in the plane crash on Thursday. — PTI

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said the Union government must fix accountability in the horrific Air India plane crash.

Talking to reporters after meeting injured persons at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, Kharge also said the Centre must give compensation to the kin of the deceased and to the injured. — PTI

Gujarat Commissioner of Relief Alok Pandey said one grief counsellor has been arranged for every family to help them with psychological trauma issues. “Contacts have been established with families of the eleven foreign nationals who to reach here tomorrow afternoon,” he added.

Gujarat Commissioner of Relief Alok Pandey said 230 teams have been formed who have established contacts with the families of the victims of the plane crash. Arrangements have been made to issue on the spot death certificate by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). “Also, instructions have been issued at the village level to issue the family relation card to the families to avoid succession isseus,” Pandey stated.

Out of total 33 districts of Gujarat, victims of the Air India flight crash are from 18 districts, said Gujarat Commissioner of Relief Alok Pandey on Saturday.

Among the first batch of nine deceased passengers whose DNA samples have matched are victims from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat, a source told The Indian Express on Saturday.

Poornima Patel from Dakor in Kheda district, one of the victims who died in the Air India plane crash and among the first nine passengers whose DNA samples matched, was cremated in her hometown on Saturday, sources said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge reached the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on Saturday to meet those injured in the Air India plane crash on the ground, which included some students of medicine and then visited the crash site nearby. He was accompanied by deputy chief minister of Karnataka DK Shivakumar and Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain (Express photos by Bhupendra Rana)

Ambulances and cars readied in the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital campus to carry bodies of passengers who died in the Air India plane crash. The DNA samples of these bodies have matched. (Express photos by Bhupendra Rana)

Congress general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said that once the reason for the Ahmedabad plane crash is found, corrective measures need to be taken to protect lives in the future.

Vadra, who is on a two-day visit to Kerala to inaugurate various developmental projects in her Lok Sabha constituency, told reporters here that the whole nation was grieving over the lives lost in the crash. — PTI

The Indian diaspora in London has been rallying around to coordinate fundraisers to support the UK-based family members of the Ahmedabad plane crash victims, including urgent assistance for two orphaned children.

Arjun Patoliya, among the 241 victims of the Air India plane crash, travelled to Gujarat to fulfil his late wife Bharti's wish to immerse her ashes in India after she recently lost her battle with cancer. — PTI

A heavy-duty crane takes down the tail end of crashed Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in order to dislodge it from the building, at Meghani nagar in Ahmedabad on Saturday. (Express photo by Sankhadeep Banerjee)

Hostels of the BJ Medical College that were damaged in the Air India plane crash here are being vacated as the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AIIB) wants to conduct a probe, the institution's dean, Minakshi Parikh, said on Saturday.

Talking to reporters, Parikh said four buildings — Atulyam 1, 2, 3 and 4 — which were damaged in the crash are being vacated, and occupants will be given alternative accommodations. — PTI

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu asserted that the government will look into all possible theories of what could have caused the Air India plane crash this week which killed more than 270 people.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said during the press briefing that the authorities will conduct an extended surveillance into all Boeing 787 flights. Currently, 34 of these planes are operational in India.

The Civil Aviation Ministry said in a press briefing today that the Air India flight crashed 2 km from the airport in Ahmedabad, and the airport runway was shut down as part of the protocol. Ministry official said that the black box has been found and investigation will proceed as per protocol.

Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani's last rites will be conducted in Rajkot, and the date will be declared after the DNA tests conclude.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday raised serious questions about possible sabotage in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 241 people. He asked whether there was any cyber attack on the system of the plane by any enemy country, as they try to target India's military installations with their cyber attacks.

"I am not an expert, but there are serious questions about sabotage in the Air India plane that crashed in Ahmedabad within 30 seconds of takeoff. Was there any cyber attack on the system of the plane by any enemy country, as they try to target our military installations with their cyber attacks?" Raut said in a press conference.

"Today a meeting was organised in the Forensic Science Laboratory of the entire Forensic Science Gujarat team, which is working to match the DNA of every family as soon as possible. The Indian government has also sent major help in the form of forensic experts... After this, we will visit the National Forensic Science University. We are working on fast-tracking the process," Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi said.

The 33 people who died on the ground will also get Rs 1 crore as compensation from the Tata Group. The compensation is the same as the amount to be given to those who died in the flight. Tata also announced that they will cover the medical costs of those who are undergoing treatment for their injuries. Those who were injured in the crash are believed to include doctors, students, hospital staff and local residents from the Meghaninagar area, which is close to the airport. Read more.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Saturday reached the Ministry of Civil Aviation, where he will chair a high-level meeting on air safety. Civil Aviation Secretary, DGCA Director General, AAI officials, and other senior ministry officials will attend the meeting.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu is scheduled to address the media at 1.30 pm on Saturday, two days after the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad which claimed over 240 lives. This comes on the same day as Centre forming a high-level panel to probe the cause of the incident, and prepare SOPs to prevent further such incidents.

King Charles III has directed members of the Royal Family to wear black armbands during this year’s Trooping the Colour parade as a tribute to the victims of the recent Air India plane crash, Buckingham Palace announced. The ceremonial event, which marks the British monarch’s official birthday, will also observe a minute’s silence.

According to a Palace spokesperson, the King requested the moment of reflection following his inspection of troops on Saturday, “in recognition of the lives lost, the families in mourning, and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy.”

Read more.

In a tragic twist of fate, an Indore woman's loving gesture to celebrate her husband's birthday ended in unthinkable sorrow. Harpreet Kaur Hora advanced her flight to London, only to become one of the 241 passengers on the ill-fated Air India plane that crashed in Ahmedabad.

For Harpreet, a 28-year-old IT professional working in Bengaluru, the journey to London was meant to be a joyous reunion as her husband, Robbie Hora, also an IT professional, awaited her arrival there.

Initially, Harpreet had planned to fly on June 19, but a desire to make his special day unforgettable prompted her to switch to the earlier flight.

A high-level multi-disciplinary committee, headed by the Union home secretary, will examine the causes that led to the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, and also suggest comprehensive guidelines to prevent such incidents in the future.

The civil aviation ministry said the committee will not be a substitute to other enquiries being conducted by relevant organisations.

The panel "will focus on formulating SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for preventing and handling such occurrences in the future”, and will publish its report in three months, the ministry said.

Among the 241 people who perished in Thursday’s Air India crash in Ahmedabad, including two pilots and 10 crew members, one was from Pimpri Chinchwad. Close relatives of Irfan Shaikh, 22, a crew member, rushed to Ahmedabad and identified his body soon after the incident but are still waiting to take possession of it.

“In the Ahmedabad plane crash, Irfan Shaikh, brother of Aamir Shaikh, who lives in Pimpri, has been identified as the deceased. The Shaikh family has travelled to Ahmedabad to claim the body. Although the body has been identified, there is delay in further process (sic)…,” Irfan’s relative Azhar Shaikh said in a social media post.

Irfan had joined Air India two years ago as a cabin crew member. “He was earlier with Vistara which merged with Air India,” his uncle Javed Shaikh told this paper.

The Shaikh family has been living in the Sant Tukaram area for more than 40 years. Irfan has an elder brother. He did his schooling from Dr D Y Patil High School, which was located close to his residence, before completing Class 11 and 12 at Jai Hind School, Pimpri... continue reading

They were good people…didn’t deserve this, shared a heart broken Kuldeep Bhatt, who along with his cousin Prabuddha Vyas had arrived in Ahmedabad from Rajasthan’s Banswara to inquire about their family members — the doctor couple along with their three children — who died in the Gatwick-bound Air India flight, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, that crashed within minutes of take off and burst into flames.

On Friday noon, Vyas and Bhatt were at Ahmedabad’s Meghaninagar police station inquiring about the belongings of their family members — radiologist Dr Pratik Joshi (46), his wife Dr Komi Vyas (39), their elder daughter Miraya (8), and five-year-old twins — Nakul and Pradyut. The two men had reached the police station, located about 2 km from the crash site, after Prabuddha Vyas, the younger sibling of Dr Komi, submitted his DNA samples at the Kasauti Bhavan of BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.

The doctor couple had settled their affairs in India and were permanently immigrating to the United Kingdom. However, their dreams of starting a new chapter were brutally shattered by the fatal crash. Read

Jaiprakash Chaudhary was a person of many firsts. Son of a labourer and a second-year medical student at BJ Medical College and Hospital, he was the first of his family to go to college and, if he had lived, would have been the first doctor in his remote Barmer village of Bor Charanan – something that his family would advertise proudly.

But the 20-year-old’s life was tragically cut short when the London-bound B787 Boeing Dreamliner Air India flight carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed into the BJ Medical College and Hospital hostel soon after it took off Thursday afternoon. The crash killed 241 of 242 passengers and crew on board and five people at the hostel, four medical students, and a doctor’s wife – all of them in the hostel’s second floor mess at the time of the crash.

Of these, 12 people – 11 on board the plane and Jayprakash – are from Rajasthan.

According to a family member, Jaiprakash had spoken to them just before he went for lunch. He got into the government medical college after scoring 686 out of 720 in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) two years ago. Read

A day after the Air India plane crash, investigators have recovered one of the two black boxes, the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) from the rooftop of a building near the crash site. The search is still underway for the second black box, the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), with no confirmation on its status yet.

China’s aviation authority announced on Wednesday (March 23) that a flight recorder, commonly known as “black box”, “from China Eastern MU5735 was found”, bringing the first hope of understanding what caused the country’s worst airline disaster in years.

The China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737-800 virtually fell out of the sky on March 21 afternoon, plunging almost vertically from 29,100 feet to 7,850 feet in just over a minute, according to FlightRadar24 data.

Black boxes

These are two large metallic boxes containing recorders that are required to be kept on most aircraft, one in the front and the other in the rear. The recorders record the information about a flight, and help reconstruct the events leading to an aircraft accident. Read

The WhatsApp message was simple, but filled with warmth only family can convey: “Happy journey Harpreet beta.” Those words, sent on a family WhatsApp group on Thursday morning, would become the last blessing Harpreet Kaur Hora (30) would receive before she stepped on the ill-fated Air India flight.

But this wasn’t always the plan. Harpreet originally booked her ticket for June 19, a routine visit to see Robbie, her husband of four years who works in London as a software engineer. But since his birthday fell on June 16, she couldn’t bear the thought of missing it.

And so, she decided to reschedule her flight for June 12, so she could be there for his special day. When the Boeing 787 Dreamliner lifted off from Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport on Thursday afternoon, Harpreet was seated in 22E. Minutes later, the aircraft crashed in Ahmedabad’s Meghaninagar area.

In another cruel twist of fate, Harpreet had travelled from her IT job in Bangalore to her maternal home in Ahmedabad, where her father was recovering from heart surgery. She chose to fly from Ahmedabad rather than from Bangalore since she wanted to spend time with him, her family said.... Continue reading

Day after the Air India plane crash, National Investigation Agency (NIA) team, along with officials from other central agencies, visited the site of the crash in Ahmedabad on Friday. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched an official investigation into the tragedy.

After DNA testing to confirm identities, bodies of six of the 241 victims who died in the Air India plane crash on Thursday were returned to their families, PTI reported the police as saying.

In case of the other bodies, which are partially or fully charred, it will take around 72 hours to complete the exercise of matching their DNA samples, they added.

Sharing a brief clip from the Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera called out the remarks as "insensitive", terming it as an abdication.

"When a plane crashes and people die, the least a Home Minister can offer is a promise of accountability, not a shrug and a lecture on fate. ‘Nobody can stop accidents’ is an abdication. If nothing can be prevented, why do we have ministries at all? Aviation accidents are not acts of God - they are preventable. That’s why we have aviation regulators, safety protocols, and crisis response systems. By the Home Minister’s logic, should we stop investing in safety infrastructure, regulation, or crisis preparedness altogether? Just leave it to fate and call it a day?" Khera wrote on X.

On Thursday evening, Amit Shah was in Ahmedabad to review the situation at the airport and to meet the lone survivor of the crash. “I want to say one thing: it was an accident and no one stopped any accident. But for 365 days, the alertness of all concerned departments will be checked during such incidents. And today, the alertness of the disaster management of the State government was checked in an unfortunate incident. The Centre and the Government of Gujarat are jointly engaged in relief and rescue operations,” he was quoted as saying to mediapersons.

13-year-old Akash was not a passenger on the flight to Ahmedabad-London flight that crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday. In fact, he had never been on a flight in his short life.

His family had been evicted a fortnight ago, so they were sleeping on a pavement — near the UG hostels of BJ Medical College — when the Boeing 787-8 crashed and claimed his life.

At least 24 people are learnt to have died on the ground, including four medical students and the wife of a doctor. Akash was among them.

Read the full story here

There was only one Canadian citizen who was onboard the ill-fated Ahmedabad-London Air India plane that crashed on Thursday afternoon.

Indian-origin dentist Nirali Patel (32) was travelling back to Canada from a “social trip” in India, as per CTV News Toronto

Toronto-based Nirali is survived by her husband and one-year-old child.

'11A' is among the six seats in the first row of the economy class of Air India's B787-8 planes.

It is the window seat near one of the emergency exit doors as well as the aircraft galley area, according to the seat map.

While it might be too early to conclude on the factors that helped Ramesh exit the aircraft that went up in flames, being seated near the emergency exit door could be one of the reasons for his miraculous escape, PTI reported.

Vivek Kant, in an Opinion piece for The Indian Express, says the tragic Air India Boeing 787-8 crash is a "time to contemplate and learn".

The retired Maharashtra-cadre IPS officer who has worked in both the CBI and the CID writes: As part of the socio-technical system that runs the aviation sector, the general workforce must be trained to understand multiple complexities and interactions. This is what we should now focus on rather than blaming individuals, searching for root causes or treating accidents as acts of God.

Read the full piece here

At least 10 persons, including one of the pilots and crew members, on board the ill-fated London-bound Air India flight that crashed in Ahmedabad hailed from Maharashtra, officials said on Friday.

After appreciating the condolence messages pouring in from across the world, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, in a post X, wrote: "In touch with FS @DavidLammy of UK, FM @PauloRangel_pt of Portugal and FM @AnitaAnandMP of Canada regarding the Ahmedabad plane crash. Expressed our profound condolences and offered fullest support in this hour of grief."

The trip to London was something Mahadev and his wife Asha were looking forward to. “During the last call, he said he was going to stay in London for a few months and then return. One of our nephews had clicked a picture of them outside the airport, which is now doing the rounds in the area,” Mahadev's cousin said.

Originally from Hadit, Mahadev and his family had migrated to Ahmedabad long back in search of a job.

Read more

At the Ahmedabad airport, the PM met the wife and family members of former Gujarat CM and senior BJP leader Vijay Rupani who was onboard the ill-fated flight. He consoled the family and interacted with them for around 30 minutes, as per sources.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday thanked all foreign leaders and governments for their condolences at the tragic loss of lives in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. The plane carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed minutes after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon.

"Thank all foreign leaders and Governments for their condolences at the tragic loss of lives in the Ahmedabad air crash. We appreciate this deeply," Jaishankar said in a post on X. He was in Europe on an official visit when the tragedy struck the Boeing 737 Dreamliner which was bound for London.

Arrangements have been made by the Gujarat government to transport bodies of the crash victims to their native villages as soon as they are identified via DNA testing, Anand BJP MP Mitesh Patel said.

He added that as many as 33 passengers on the flight belonged to the district

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Ahmedabad today to take stock of the situation, a day after the deadly Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed killing 241 onboard. He visited the accident site near the Ahmedabad airport and also met those injured, currently receiving treatment in the city's Civil Hospital. Now, he's holding a meeting with ministers and officials.

Greg Feith, a former senior air safety investigator with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), spoke to The Indian Express about the initials details and key questions as part of the investigation into the Ahmedabad-London Air India Boeing flight that crashed on Thursday afternoon.

When asked about what the altitude of 600 feet indicate about the flight phase and the pilot’s workload, Feith said: "Typically, in that particular phase of flight, the airplane would have been on the takeoff roll, then rotated, and started its initial climb."

If a problem developed that prevented them from retracting the landing gear — or if there was a hydraulic issue and the flaps retracted on their own — that would cause performance problems. Now the pilot flying has to expend significant mental effort to understand what’s happening and figure out the appropriate corrective action, he added.

After visiting the crash site near the Ahmedabad airport this morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X, reiterated his condolences message on the "loss of lives in such a sudden, heartbreaking manner".

"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," his post read.

With photographs from his visit, he added: "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."

Because the devil is in the details, says Greg Feith, a former senior air safety investigator with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

As a forensic team is at work at the Ahmedabad aiport, Feith told The Indian Express that investigators are likely to assess the physical positions of the thrust levers, the flap handle, and the landing gear handle in the cockpit.

This will be used for a comparison with the data from the flight data recorder or the black box which is till being searched for. "If the recorder shows the landing gear or flaps were in the “up” position, but physically we know the gear was still down, that’s another anomaly," Feith added.

He has spent decades examining complex air crashes — including those that, like the Air India Express tragedy near Ahmedabad on Thursday, unfolded in the brief but critical moments after takeoff.

Read the full interview here

Air India has set up assistance centres in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, and Gatwick (London) airports for the relatives and friends of the victims of the plane crash in Ahmedabad, the airline said on Friday. These centres are facilitating travel of family members to Ahmedabad, Air India said in a statement.

The passenger hotline number for those calling from within India: 1800 5691 444

Those calling from outside India: +91 8062779200

The Tata-owned airlines, in a request to editors, asked mediapersons to not dial the hotline numbers dedicated to help families of the victims.

On behalf of the Congress, the party's general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh expressed condolences to the families of the victims killed in the Ahmedabad-London Air India flight crash,

In a post on X, Ramesh wrote: "The Indian National Congress extends its deepest condolences to all the families bereaved and so devastatingly affected by the crash of AI-171 yesterday."

He added that the party joins the country in the "collective anguish and grief".

"We had hoped and prayed while awaiting confirmation of fatalities. The confirmation is grim news and the INC joins the nation in our collective anguish and grief over this most unfortunate and shocking tragedy," his post read.

There were 11 passengers from Rajasthan onboard the London Gatwick-bound Air India flight that crashed at the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon.

Read more here

A day after the deadly Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed killing 241 onboard, Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed at the Ahmedabad airport and headed to meet those injured and receiving treatment at city’s Civil Hospital.

The bodies of the 241 deceased in the tragic plane crash of the Ahmedabad-London Gatwick Air India flight will be handed over to families after the DNA testing to confirm their identities is completed.

“The Gujarat’s Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) will jointly complete the DNA testing in the shortest possible time, after which the bodies of the deceased will be handed over to their families,” Amit Shah said, hours after the crash on Thursday afternoon.

The Union Home Minister also met the only person who miraculously survived the crash and was admitted in the hospital for medical treatment. Meanwhile, the operation to clear debris at the crash site continued overnight and is said to be in the last stages as of Friday morning.

Only one person, seated in 11A, survived the tragic crash of the London-bound flight at Ahmedabad airport.

Now, fatal air crashes with a sole survivor seem to defy all odds. But interestingly, there have been around two dozen instances in the past 80 years where just one person made it out alive in a major crash that killed 50 or more people.

A forensic team has arrived at the Ahmedabad airport crash site.

On Thursday afternoon, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI 171), with 242 people on board, crashed into a medical college complex in the Meghaninagar area moments after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

One person miraculously survived the crash and is receiving medical treatment. The other 241 passengers, including 168 Indians, 53 British, seven Portuguese and one Canadian, lost their lives in of the biggest aircraft accidents in the country, involving a Boeing plane.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed at the Ahmedabad airport to review the situation today, a day after the deadly Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed killing 241 onboard.

He is expected to take stock of the situation at the crash site.

Former Gujarat Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Rupani lost his life in the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday. The 68-year-old senior BJP leader was onboard the flight carrying 242 passengers from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick.

Rupani was set to fly to London earlier this month to join his wife and daughter there, but postponed his trip by a few days because of the Assembly bypolls on June 19.

“He was to travel earlier to London to meet his daughter, but stayed back because of the elections,” a relative who did not wish to be named told The Indian Express.

The operation to clear the debris at the crash site which continued overnight is in its last stages, an official was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

The temperature from the fuel loaded in the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner which caught fire in the crash was so high that even dogs and birds at the site could not escape, officials were quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Even Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who met the lone survivor of the crash, said: “There was 1.25 lakh litres of fuel inside the plane and it caught fire so it was impossible to save anyone”.

Mukesh Ambani, Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director, expressed his condolences over the deadly Air Indian Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash on Thursday afternoon.

In a post on the Reliance Industries X, he wrote: "Nita (his wife) and I along with the entire Reliance family are deeply pained and anguished by the grave loss of life caused by the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad. We extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to all those affected by this tragic incident. In this hour of grief, Reliance extends its full and unwavering support to the ongoing relief efforts and stands ready to assist in every possible way. We pray that all those impacted find the strength and solace to cope with their unimaginable loss. Om Shanti."

The Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is insured so the tragic crash on Thursday afternoon at the Ahmedabad airport will not have any financial impact on the Tatas which own the airline.

The 242 passengers who lost their lives in the crash are expected to get suitable compensation from insurance companies.

As of late Thursday, the search was on for the Boeing 787-8 aircraft’s black box — the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder — for clues to better understand the last moments before the London Gatwick-bound flight crashed shortly after takeoff at the Ahmedabad airport, as per news agency PTI.

As the reason for the deadly crash is still unclear at this stage, the black box is crucial to understand and help reconstruct the events leading to an aircraft accident.

Most aircraft are required to be equipped with two black boxes — the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and the flight data recorder (FDR) — that record the information about a flight.

The temperature from the fuel loaded in the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner which caught fire in the crash was so high that even dogs and birds at the site could not escape, officials were quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Even Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who met the lone survivor of the crash, said: "There was 1.25 lakh litres of fuel inside the plane and it caught fire so it was impossible to save anyone".

Until Thursday’s Air India plane crash, Dr Koni Vyas’s family was on the brink of a new life. A pathologist working at a private hospital in Rajasthan’s Banswara, Koni had resigned from her position last month so she could begin a new life with her husband Pratik Joshi, a London-based doctor, and their three children – five-year-old twin boys Pradyut and Nakul and eight-year-old daughter Miraya.

Before the flight took off, the family clicked a selfie – the beaming parents on one side of the aisle and the children on the other. Minutes later, tragedy would strike.

According to family members in Banswara, after resigning from her job at the Pacific Hospital, Koni had been excitedly preparing for the journey for a month. According to relatives, Joshi, a radiologist, had been working in London for the last four years and was similarly looking forward to a life with his family there. His father was also a radiologist who ran a renowned sonography centre in the city, while his sister is an engineer. Read Full Report

Earlier this month, Abdulla Nanabawa of Surat received a pleasant surprise. His son Akeel, daughter-in-law Haana, and three-year-old granddaughter Sara – all British citizens – had flown down to India on the occasion of Eid.

Early on Thursday morning, Akeel and his family left their Surat home to reach Ahmedabad to catch the flight back to London.

A little before 2pm, as news of a plane crashing minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport trickled in, the Nanabawa family began fearing the worst. In some time, the fears were confirmed – Akeel and his family were on the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner that was involved in the accident.

Rashid Mansuri, a relative of the Nanabawa family, told The Indian Express, “We learnt about the incident through news channels. Along with Abdulla and a few other family members, I have left for Ahmedabad. We don’t know whether Akeel and his family are alive or dead.”

Family sources said that Akeel had not told anyone about his plans to come to Surat to celebrate Bakrid, which fell on June 6 this year.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah Thursday said that the temperature in the Air India plane which crashed in Ahmedabad was so high due to burning fuel that there was no chance to save people. “There was 1.25 lakh litre of fuel inside the plane and it caught fire so it was impossible to save anyone,” Shah said, adding that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has initiated a probe.

Shah was speaking hours after visiting the aircraft crash site and the hospital where the victims are admitted,

On Thursday afternoon, after coming to know about the incident, Shah first made a call to the Gujarat Chief Minister, their Home Minister, Civil Aviation department and officials of the civil department. Later in the evening, he left for Ahmedabad and visited the aircraft crash site as well the hospital where victims were taken.

A 35-year-old woman returning to the UK after dropping off her daughter at the grandparents’ house in Vadodara, two sisters heading on vacation to London, and another woman returning after coming to India for medical treatment — they were among the passengers of the Air India flight to London that crashed just minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad airport.

The list of passengers on flight AI-171 showed that at least 33 of them were from Gujarat’s Anand district, 19 from Vadodara, and 17 from Kheda.

In Anand district, a distraught family recalled that Bhavna Rana and her sister Anandi Rana had been looking forward to their two-month vacation in London, where Bhavna’s two children live. An employee of a hospital in Karamsad, Bhavna had been saving her leaves to make the visit — her first to the UK.

Amit Rana, Bhavna and Anandi’s nephew, said, “My paternal aunt, Bhavna, had taken leave for two months to visit London. Both my paternal aunts were on the flight. Our family members are in Ahmedabad to look for them… We are unable to come to terms with this and are hoping for a miracle.”

Relatives of Rupal Patel (44), from Uttarsanda in Anand, said she was on her way back after having come to India for treatment and that she has two young children in the UK. Read Full Report

At least 265 bodies have reached Ahmedabad Civil Hospital from the site of the crash of Air India flight AI 171, confirmed a senior police officer late on Thursday evening.

Speaking to the media, Zone-4 DCP Kanan Desai said, “At 1.30 pm, the Air India flight from Ahmedabad to UK crashed near the SRP campus in Meghaninagar within nine minutes of take-off. When the crash took place, the smoke was so dense that we could not see anything and the situation was so bad that flames were springing outwards and blasts were taking place, thus hindering the police from going near (the crash site).”

She said, “Personnel from the fire stations also reached the spot and doused the fire. Subsequently, NDRF, CISF, Army teams arrived and as the fire was doused, we began the work of retrieving the bodies, which were badly burnt. We sent them to Civil Hospital.”

The Boeing CEO offered condolences and support after an Air India plane crashed in Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171, as well as everyone affected in Ahmedabad. I have spoken with Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran to offer our full support, and a Boeing team stands ready to support the investigation led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau,” Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg said in a statement.

Smokestacks emanating from hostel buildings, fire still visible in some of the rooms, hoses sprinkling water to douse the flames, fire brigade officials cutting the fallen trees even as a few branches continue to burn, the floor dotted with broken parts of a crashed plane, dead birds: This was the scene near Ghoda Camp Road in Meghaninagar area, adjacent to the Ahmedabad airport, on Thursday evening.

Until 1.38pm, the address was a bustling, densely populated locality that was home to four hostel buildings, called Attulyam-1 to 4, for students of BJ Medical College attached with the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital situated close by.

But minutes after an Air India plane with 242 people aboard crashed on the site, all that could be seen was a huge posse of personnel from various government agencies such as NDRF, CISF, Civil Defence, Home Guards, RAF and Defense involved in relief and rescue operations. A number of ambulances were lined up outside to ferry anyone in need of medical help. Read Full Report

The Ahmedabad-London Gatwick Air India AI-171 Boeing Dreamliner, which crashed within seven minutes of being cleared to fly and under a minute after actually taking off from Runway 23 of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA), had departed at 1.38 pm against the scheduled departure time of 1.10 pm.

It would only attain an altitude of 625 metres before the flight communication was lost.

Data from flightradar24.com traces the flight’s path only till the end of the airport’s runway.

The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, which saw Air India flight AI 171 crash land just nine minutes after take-off outside the airport premises on Thursday afternoon, became fully operational shortly before 6 pm with several flights landing at the airport in the evening.

At 2.55 pm, the airport put out its first statement regarding the plane crash and non-operational status of the airport.

It said, “Flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London, Gatwick, earlier today, was involved in a crash shortly after takeoff, outside the airport. As a result, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad, is currently not operational. All flight operations are temporarily suspended until further notice. Passengers are advised to check with their respective airlines for the latest updates before proceeding to the airport. We request your cooperation and patience as authorities manage this evolving situation.”

“Almost 70% of the passengers were found in their seats, most of them had their seatbelts on…”

This was how a first responder, who rushed to the site of the Air India plane crash near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, described the horrific scene that he witnessed on Thursday afternoon.

Another first responder said that a few passengers were found near the emergency doors of the aircraft.

It was one of these emergency doors through which 39-year-old Vishwas Kumar, a passenger who survived the crash, is said to have exited the burning aircraft.

When the fire department and police control room received the first messages of the crash around 1.38 pm, many officers said that they thought the plane had been involved in an accident on the airport premises, possibly due to an aborted take-off or landing attempt.'

But as they reached the site of the crash, a cluster of hostel buildings housing students of a medical college, the scale of the disaster dawned upon them. Read Full Report

The Indian Medical Association and several doctor’s associations expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives in the Ahmedabad Air India plane crash.

Several doctors’ associations sent their teams to the spot assist the injured victims in the devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon.

Resident doctors’ teams were also on alert as the plane crashed into the hostel building of the B J Medical College at Ahmedabad.

Dr Mehul Shah, president, IMA Gujarat, said they had dispatched their teams to three hospitals, apart from the government-run B J Medical College and Hospital. IMA authorities are actively monitoring the situation, specially the injured students. “Some have suffered trauma injuries but by and large are stable,” he said.

Roshni Rajendra Songhare, 27, was one of the crew members on board the ill-fated Air India flight that crashed in Ahmedabad soon after takeoff. A resident of Madhabi Bungalow area on Rajaji Path in Dombivili, Songhare’s parents and brother rushed to Mumbai airport when they got the news.

Songhare, who recently joined Air India, was on duty as a flight attendant, said a relative, adding that it was her “dream” to become an air hostess.

She lived with her parents and brother in the New Umiya Krupa Society in Dombivali East. Her relatives described her as a “bright and intelligent” young woman, who achieved what she aimed for once she finished her education. In her neighbourhood, her Air India uniform was a matter of pride.

She also had a sizeable following on Instagram, 54,000 followers, and regularly posted snippets from her life there.

As soon as it became clear that Roshni was on duty on the Air India flight, Dombivili MLA and state BJP president Ravindra Chavan contacted the state government’s emergency aircraft accident department to get information and help the family. Read Full Report

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed his condolences to people impacted by the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.

Today is a truly heartbreaking day for many British and Indian families up and down the country. I want to extend my heartfelt sympathies to all those impacted by the horrific plane crash. We have dispatched an investigation team that’s being deployed. The Foreign Secretary is leading on this. And we will update as soon as we can, says Starmer.

Following the Air India plane crash at Ahmedabad, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has formally begun an investigation into it.

“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),” Civil Aviation Minster K Ram Mohan Naidu posted on X.

Additionally, the government is constituting a high-level committee comprising experts from multiple disciplines to examine the matter in detail and strengthen aviation safety and prevent such incidents in future, he added.

In a solemn gesture of solidarity and mourning, the Delegation of the European Union to India has lowered the EU flag to half-mast following the tragic Ahmedabad Plane Crash.

Ambassador Hervé Delphin shared the message on social media: "@EU_in_India 🇪🇺 flag is lowered to half-mast in memory and respect of all citizens of 🇮🇳 🇬🇧🇨🇦 & 🇪🇺 -🇵🇹 #ahmedabadplanecrash. Our deepest condolences to the grieving families and to the people of India in this moment of shock & mourning 🙏," wrote Ambassador Delphin.

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission expressed deep sadness, saying, “My thoughts are with the families of the passengers and crew, and with all those affected by this tragedy.”

European Commission President added, “Europe mourns with India, the UK, Canada and Portugal... We share your pain.”

US President Donald Trump said, "The India plane crash was terrible."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "The aviation department had started its probe, and the Civil Aviation Minister has directed (official) to ensure that the investigation proceeds swiftly. I once again thank those who are involved in the rescue operation. Also, I once again pay my tributes to the kin of those who have lost their loved ones."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the temperature from the burning fuel was so high that there was simply no chance to save anyone.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a press conference said, "I have visited the crash site. The bodies of the passengers have nearly been recovered from the crash site. Besides, the DNA samples of the kin of passengers are being collected and this process will get completed in next 2-3 hours. The family members of the foreigners have also been reached out. Once they arrive (in India), their DNA samples will also be collected. Nearly 1,000 DNA samples are going to be collected in Gujarat only. The state has the capacity to conduct all these tests."

Players from Shreyas Iyer's Mumbai Falcons and the Siddhesh Lad-led Maratha Royals observed a minute's silence and wore black armbands before the T20 Mumbai final here to mourn the lives lost in the tragic Ahmedabad airplane crash on Thursday. PTI

The deadly crash of the Air India flight in Ahmedabad on Thursday has revived memories of a major air disaster that took place in the Gujarat city in 1988. On a foggy morning in October that year, Indian Airlines Flight 113, a Boeing 737, met with catastrophe as it attempted to land at Ahmedabad airport. The plane, which had been in service since its delivery to Indian Airlines (now defunct) in December 1970, crashed just 2.5 km from the runway, claiming the lives of 133 of the 135 people on board. The flight had taken off from Mumbai, bound for Ahmedabad, when it encountered treacherous weather. Haze had reduced visibility to a mere 1.2 miles, a condition challenging even for seasoned pilots. Read More

In Manipur’s Thoubal town, the family of 21-year-old Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam plunged into mourning as reports of the Air India plane crash came in. She was part of the cabin crew on duty on the flight. She had called her elder sister around 11:30 am to tell her that she would be flying to London that day. “She said she would not be able to call for the next few days and that she would get in touch after she returned on June 15. That ended up being her last call to us,” her father, Nandesh Kumar Sharma, said. Around three hours later, his elder daughter called out to him in a panic after seeing news reports on her phone that the flight had crashed. “We knew that she was supposed to be inside that plane. But we have not received any information from Air India or any representative. All we know is from the news and Facebook,” he said.

Read More

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the people who lost their lives in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

The 69-year-old, who was on board the ill-fated AI 171 that crashed minutes after taking off, was flying to London, where his daughter is based. His entire family had flown to London, and the former CM was on his way to join them.

“This is a very sad incident. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. We have lost two-time former chief minister Vijay Rupani in the crash, which is very sad news for the BJP family,” Union Minister and state BJP president C R Paatil told reporters in Ahmedabad.

Rajkot City BJP vice president Kashmira Nathwani, who was among those at Rupani’s home in Rajkot, told The Indian Express, “I spoke to Anjaliben (Vijay Rupani’s wife) just two days back. She told me that Vijay bhai would be joining them and then she would return with him at the end of this month”.

Air India is organizing two relief flights, one each from Delhi and Mumbai, to Ahmedabad for the next of kin of passengers and Air India staff. Details of the flights:

Next of kin of passengers and staff in Delhi and Mumbai wanting to travel on these flights can call our hotline on 1800 5691 444. Additionally, those coming in from international destinations and wanting to travel can call our hotline on +91 8062779200.

Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson on Thursday expressed "deep sorrow" at the crashing of the airline's Boeing 787-8 aircraft with 242 people on board, saying this is a "difficult day" for all at Air India.- PTI

A British agency that investigates civil aircraft accidents and serious incidents on Thursday said it will be deploying a multidisciplinary investigation team to India to support the Indian-led investigation into the plane crash in Ahmedabad. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said it has "formally offered its assistance" to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau in India, PTI reported.

It said it would have “expert status” in the Indian investigation because UK citizens were on board the plane. "We are deploying a multidisciplinary investigation team to India to support the Indian-led investigation. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic accident,” AAIB said.

Insurance payout to dependents of passengers who died in the Air India plane crash at Ahemdabad will be governed by the applicable Montreal Convention of which India is a signatory, said experts.

The nationality of the passengers onboard will define the minimum liability applicable to the airline operator as per the Montreal Convention, Prudent Insurance Brokers vice president (aviation & specialty lines) Hitesh Girotra told PTI.

While interim compensation may be announced by the airline, final compensation for passengers will be determined under the Montreal Convention of 1999, to which India became a signatory in 2009, brokerage firm Howden (India) MD and CEO Amit Agarwal told PTI.

"Compensation is calculated using Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), which stood at 128,821 SDRs (approximately USD 1.33 per SDR) as of October 2024. The actual payout will depend on the coverage purchased by Air India," Agarwal said.

Just before she boarded the fateful Ahmedabad-London Air India flight AI171 Thursday, Khushboo Rajpurohit got one last photo clicked with her father Madan Rajpurohit at the Ahmedabad airport. The two had travelled down to Ahmedabad from Rajasthan’s Balotra district the night before and Khushboo was returning to London, where her husband of a few months awaited her return. But that was not to be. Khushboo, a 20-something woman who married a nurse in London in January 2025, was one of 11 victims of the crash from Rajasthan. Her father Madan had just reached Mehsana when he got news of the crash, officials said. Her photo went viral on social media soon after the incident. Apart from Khushboo, other victims from Rajasthan include Shubh Modi and his sister Shagun, both children of a marble businessman in Udaipur, Vardichand Menaria and Prakash Menaria, both cooks at a restaurant in London, and Abhinav Parihar, an artificial jewellery businessman from Bikaner and grandson of former Dungargarh MLA Krishna Ram Nai. They also include a doctor couple -- Dr. Koni Vyas of Banswara and her husband Dr. Pradeep Joshi – and their three children Pradyut, Miraya and Nakul, officials said. Read More

At least 20 medical students are reported to have been injured when the Air India plane crashed into the hostel premises of the BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital in Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon. A senior medical student put the number of injured at 30-40. “The plane crashed in the dining hall of the hostel where people were present. Many of them were injured and taken to hospital,” a PTI report quoted an eyewitness as saying. “There are several five-floor buildings which serve as residential quarters. Many people in those apartments were injured as the buildings also caught fire,” another eyewitness, Haresh Shah, told PTI.

Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, who visited the crash site of the Air India flight near Ahmedabad, assured that a fair and thorough investigation would be carried out to uncover the cause behind the tragic incident.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people, including 12 crew members, crashed shortly after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon.

"We are going to do a fair & thorough investigation, and probe why this incident happened. We still have to find out the numbers. We will go to the depths of why this incident happened," Naidu told the media.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) in Ahmedabad is now operational with limited flight services. If you have upcoming travel plans through Ahmedabad Airport, please reach out to your airline directly to confirm your flight schedule, as operations may vary during this initial phase of reopening.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed shock and sadness over the crash in Ahmedabad, stating that Australia's thoughts are with everyone affected. The Australian government is closely monitoring the situation."Absolutely devastating. Our government is receiving regular updates," he wrote.

Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed heartfelt condolences to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi. He also extended support to the families affected and wished the injured a swift recovery. "Please accept the deepest condolences... Kindly convey words of sincere sympathy and support to the families and near ones of the victims," he wrote.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed deep sorrow over the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad, calling it a moment of “deep emotion.” In a post on X, Macron said his thoughts are with the loved ones of the victims and extended his sympathies to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"In this time of sorrow, I extend our heartfelt thoughts to the victims' loved ones and to Prime Minister @NarendraModi," he wrote on X.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta called the plane crash in Ahmedabad “extremely painful and shocking” and prayed for the safety of all the passengers onboard.

“The news of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad is extremely painful and shocking. I express my deepest condolences to all the passengers and their families. I pray to God for the safety of all passengers and the speedy recovery of the injured. In this difficult time, we stand with full sensitivity with all the affected families,” she said in a post on X.

Delhi L-G, V K Saxena, posted on X, “Extremely shocked and pained at the unfortunate aircraft tragedy at Ahmedabad. Prayers and strength to the families who lost their loved ones, and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.” Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal posted on X, “Deeply saddened by the news of the air crash. My prayers (are) with those affected and their families.”

The Maharashtra government on Thursday released helpline numbers for the relatives of victims of the London-bound Air India flight that crashed in Ahmedabad in the afternoon.

In a statement, the Disaster Management Cell in the Mantralaya, the state secretariat, released three helpline numbers - 022-22027990, 022-22794229 and 9321587143. It also released an emergency helpline number - 1070.

The relatives and affected citizens can contact these numbers for information related to the tragedy, it said.

Britain has set up crisis teams in Delhi and London to support the families of those aboard the Air India Flight 171, which crashed soon after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport on Thursday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy informed Parliament.

In an urgent statement in the House of Commons, Lammy noted that British nationals were on board the aircraft, which was carrying 242 passengers and crew. While the minister did not specify any numbers in Parliament, it has been reported that 53 of the passengers on board were British nationals.

“My thoughts and I'm sure those of the entire House are with those who have been affected by the tragic plane crash in India this morning,” Lammy told MPs. “We know that British nationals were on board and I can confirm that the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) is working urgently with local authorities to support British nationals and their families, and has stood up a crisis team in both Delhi and in London,” he said.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy described it as “horrible news” and offered deepest condolences to Modi and the entire people of India.

“Our thoughts are with all victims' relatives and close ones in India, the UK, Portugal, and Canada. We share your shock and grief on this tragic day. We all pray for as many lives to be saved as possible and wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” he posted on X.

Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha too offered condolences to “friendly India, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar,” and said in a post on X, “With great sadness, we in Ukraine learned of the tragic crash of an Air India passenger plane in Ahmedabad. ... Our hearts go out to all victims' families in India, the UK, Portugal, and Canada. We wish the injured a speedy recovery.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has visited the plane crash site in Ahmedabad.

The Vatican's secretary of state said, "Deeply saddened by the tragedy involving an Air India aircraft near Ahmedabad, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV sends his heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives, together with the assurance of prayers for all involved in the recovery efforts."

"Commending the souls of the deceased to the mercy of the Almighty, His Holiness invokes upon all affected the divine blessings of healing and peace."

Boeing said it is aware of initial reports of the plane crash in Ahmedabad and working to gather more information even as the company’s shares tumbled in pre-market trading.

Boeing said in a brief statement: “We are aware of initial reports and are working to gather more information.” Aviation consultant John M. Cox, the CEO of Safety Operating Systems, told the AP from Los Angeles that while the first images of the crash were poor, it appeared the aircraft had its nose up and was not climbing, which is one of the things that investigators would look at. At this point, it’s very, very, very early, we don’t know a whole lot,” he said.

“But the 787 has very extensive flight data monitoring – the parameters on the flight data recorder are in the thousands – so once we get that recorder, they’ll be able to know pretty quickly what happened.”

The aircraft was introduced in 2009, and more than 1,000 have been delivered to dozens of airlines, according to the Flightradar24 website.

King Charles also expressed his shock and sympathy on the Instagram page of the royal family: "My wife and I have been desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad this morning. Our special prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected by this appallingly tragic incident across so many nations, as they await news of their loved ones. I would like to pay a particular tribute to the heroic efforts of the emergency services and all those providing help and support at this most heartbreaking and traumatic time.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also expressed his anguish. “Devastated to learn of the crash of a London-bound Air India plane in Ahmedabad, carrying 242 passengers — including one Canadian. My thoughts are with the loved ones of everyone on board,” he wrote on X.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed his condolences: "Heartbroken to hear the news of a tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad, India. My prayers are with all who lost their loved ones in this horrible incident. We continue to monitor developments and stand with the emergency responders working to help those impacted," he wrote on X.

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani died on Thursday after an Air India aircraft carrying him and 241 others crashed near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport airport in Ahmedabad in the afternoon, Union Minister of Jal Shakti and Gujarat BJP President CR Paatil announced on Thursday evening.

A BJP leader, Rupani served as the chief minister of Gujarat from 2016 till 2021, after winning the Gujarat Legislative Assembly elections from Rajkot seat.

Tata Group has announced that they will be providing ₹1 crore to the families of each person who has lost their life. "We are deeply anguished by the tragic event involving Air India Flight 171. No words can adequately express the grief we feel at this moment. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones, and with those who have been injured. Tata Group will provide ₹1 crore to the families of each person who has lost their life in this tragedy. We will also cover the medical expenses of those injured and ensure that they receive all necessary care and support. Additionally, we will provide support in the building up of the B J Medical's hostel. We remain steadfast in standing with the affected families and communities during this unimaginable time," N Chandrasekaran Tata Sons chairperson announced on X.

A passenger on board the London-bound Air India flight that crashed near the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon survived the horrific incident, a doctor at the city civil hospital said. Vishwaskumar Ramesh was in `11A' seat of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner which was carrying 242 passengers and crew. He was travelling to London with his brother.

Minister of Civil Aviation of India Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu has also visited the crash site. "Just visited the crash site in Ahmedabad what I witnessed was deeply distressing. I’m on the ground, closely reviewing rescue and relief efforts. Teams from DGCA, AAI, Air India, NDRF, and local administration are working round-the-clock. We're doing everything we can to support the victims and their families in this tragic hour," he wrote on X.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences: "Saddened by the tragic crash of Air India flight near Ahmedabad today. We extend our condolences to the families of the victims grieving this immense loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this heartbreaking tragedy." he wrote.

Among the 242 lives lost in Thursday’s devastating Air India crash was Ranjitha Gopakumaran, a 42-year-old nurse from Pullad village in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district. Ranjitha had recently secured a job in the UK’s healthcare system, yet she never let go of her dream — to return home and serve in Kerala’s state health service. She had come back to India just three days earlier, taking a short break to oversee the construction of her new home. On Wednesday, she began her journey back to London, taking a train to Kochi and then flying to Ahmedabad. Her life was cut short just minutes after takeoff. Ranjitha is survived by her husband Vineesh, her two children, Rithika and Induchoodan, and her mother, Thulasi. Her story is a heartbreaking reminder of the many untold dreams and lives lost in this tragedy.

Following the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, actor Shah Rukh Khan took to social media to express his condolences. In a heartfelt post on X, he said, “Absolutely heartbroken with the news about the crash in Ahmedabad... my prayers for the victims, their families, and all affected.”

Ahmedabad Civil Hospital’s trauma centre saw severely burnt bodies coming in, many of which were beyond identification, following the Air India plane crash. Dr Pranjal Modi, director of the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre, located on the hospital campus, told The Indian Express that even the survivors, who were unconscious, had suffered severe burns. It is not yet clear whether the survivors are from the flight or from the site where the plane crashed. “Most of the patients (crash victims) are seriously injured… they are not identifiable, faces are burnt, their skin is burnt to a great extent… they are unconscious. Our priority is to help them survive”, said Dr Modi, who was attending to the families of the victims.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is renowned for its advanced technology and strong safety record, with no previous fatal accidents prior to this incident. The specific aircraft involved in the crash was a 787-8 model, which was delivered in 2014. This variant typically accommodates 248 passengers, making it the smallest among the three variants of the Dreamliner series.

The Police in the evening said that all 242 people who were on board the flight from Ahmedabad to London had died in the crash.

Bangladesh interim chief Muhammad Yunus, too, condoled the crash of the Air India flight carrying 242 passengers in Ahmedabad. “Shocked at the tragic crash of Air India flight carrying 242 passengers in Ahmedabad. We join all in prayers for the bereaved ones and their families. Bangladesh stands in solidarity with people and government of #india at this trying time.”

Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau will be investigating the Air India plane crash at the Ahmedabad airport, according to an official quoted by news agency PTI. AAIB Director General and Director of Investigation at the agency, among others, will be leaving for Ahmedabad, the official said.

Under the civil aviation ministry, AAIB is responsible for the classification of safety occurrences, involving aircraft operating in the Indian airspace into accidents and serious incidents. It carries out detailed investigations into accidents and also suggests measures to improve safety.

As many as nine flights from Delhi to Gujarat were cancelled due to the Ahmedabad airport suspending all flight operations after an Air India flight crashed soon after take-off on Thursday afternoon.

The Ahmedabad-London flight crashing comes days before the opening of the Paris Air Show. Boeing has been in recovery mode for more than six years after Lion Air Flight 610, a Boeing 737 Max 8, plunged into the Java Sea off the coast of Indonesia minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.

Five months later, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 Max 8, crashed after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing 157 passengers and crew members.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma expressed shock over the crash of the Air India crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday. Taking to X, Sangma posted, “Shocked and saddened by the tragic accident of the Air India flight going from Ahmedabad to London. Our prayers are with all the family members of passengers who were on board the aircraft.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday offered “deepest condolences” to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the plane crash. “Please accept my deepest condolences over the tragic consequences of the plane crash at Ahmedabad Airport. “Please convey my sympathy and support to the families of those killed and my wishes for a swift recovery to those injured in the crash,” Putin said in his message.

Operations at the Ahmedabad International Airport resumed on a limited scale, hours after the Air India London-bound flight crashed minutes after take-off. The flight was carrying 242 passengers and crew members.

As condolences poured in from around the world, Australian PM Anthony Albanese said: “The news of a passenger plane crash in Ahmedabad is absolutely devastating. In this time of tragedy, Australia’s thoughts are with everyone affected. Our government is receiving regular updates and we will continue to monitor the situation closely.”

The Air India plane bound for London, which lost altitude soon after take-off, crashed into residential quarters of BJ Medical College doctors in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar area on Thursday, causing severe damage to buildings in the premises, eyewitnesses said.

Several people living in the residential quarters located near the Ahmedabad airport were injured in the crash, they claimed though there was no official confirmation of this. “There are several five-floor buildings which serve as residential quarters. Many people in those apartments were injured as the buildings also caught fire,” he said.

Another eyewitness said several cars and vehicles parked in the premises also caught fire.

The Chief Justice of India and the companion judges of the Supreme Court, along with the officials of the Registry, expressed their condolences in a statement. “The Chief Justice of India has also expressed his concern for the inmates of the B J Medical College and Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad. During this difficult times our thoughts and prayers are with them. May they find strength and solace in the support of their loved ones”, the CJI said.

A large number of residents are feared dead after the aircraft crashed into Atulyam, which is the superspeciality doctors’ residence. The incident took place when around 200 people were residing in the building’s 94 flats, sources in CISF said.

The Ahmedabad Civil hospital saw severely burnt bodies coming in, which were far beyond identification. Dr Pranjal Modi, director of the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre, located in the hospital campus, told The Indian Express that even the survivors who were unconscious, had suffered severe burns.

Relatives who had come from districts like Anand and other places in Gujarat to bid goodbye to their family members on the ill-fated AI 171 flight waited desperately for news of their dear ones. “Most of the patients (victims of the crash) are seriously injured, there are patients who are not identifiable, faces are burnt, bodies are burnt to great extent so they are not identifiable...because they are unconscious. Our priority is to help them survive,” said Dr Modi, who was attending to the families of the victims.

Moments after the crash, MLA Darshna Vaghela said: “I was in my office nearby when the plane crashed, and there was a loud thud. The flats of the doctors have been damaged. The rescue operation will continue.”

Boeing is working to gather information after an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 people on board crashed minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad, a company spokesperson said.

According to initial reports, at least 91 people have died in the crash as their bodies were brought into hospitals in the area.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said he was in deep sorrow over the crash of Air India flight AI171, which was en route to London from Ahmedabad. “The tragic news of the plane crash in Ahmedabad is deeply painful. Many passengers have lost their lives. I pray to God for the safety of all and hope that such incidents do not result in further loss of life,” Adityanath said.

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, reacting to the incident, said: “The Ahmedabad Air India crash is heartbreaking. The pain and anxiety the families of the passengers and crew must be feeling is unimaginable. My thoughts are with each one of them in this incredibly difficult moment. Urgent rescue and relief efforts by the administration are critical — every life matters, every second counts.”

He added: “Congress workers must do everything they can to help on the ground.”

Six teams of the National Disaster Response Force and two from the BSF have been sent to undertake rescue and relief operations at the aircraft crash site in Ahmedabad. Two NDRF teams have reached the spot near the Ahmedabad airport while four more are on their way, an officer of the federal force said. Two Border Security Force teams from the frontier headquarters of the force have also been sent to the accident site, a BSF officer said.

Personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), who provide a counter-terrorist security cover to the airport, were among the first rescuers to have reached the crash site along with local fire and police officials.

An IndiGo flight from Kolkata to Ahmedabad returned to the NSCBI Airport on Thursday after getting airborne since the destination was closed after an Air India aircraft crashed shortly after take-off, officials said. IndiGo flight 6E-318, which departed from Kolkata at 1.49 pm, came back after being airborne, an Airports Authority of India spokesperson in Kolkata said.

Reacting to the incident, President Droupadi Murmu wrote on X: “I am deeply distressed to learn about the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad. It is a heart-rending disaster. My thoughts and prayers are with the affected people. The nation stands with them in this hour of indescribable grief.”

Soon after the takeoff, the pilot of the Air India aircraft gave a Mayday call to the Ahmedabad air traffic controller. However, thereafter no response was given by the aircraft to the calls made by ATC, aviation regulator DGCA said in a statement.

As relief and rescue efforts were on in full swing, the Disaster Management Team of Western Railway, too, extended full support in the operations at the site. “WR Medical Team and RPF personnel have also already been deployed for assisting in rescue operations. Additionally, Western Railway will operate extra trains from Ahmedabad based on demand. As of now one train for Mumbai and one train for Delhi are being planned from Ahmedabad,” the Western Railways said in a statement.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he was concerned by the plane crash near Ahmedabad and prayed for the safety of all passengers and crew. “Deeply concerned by reports of an Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad. Praying for the safety and well-being of all passengers and crew members,” Sarma said in a post on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reacting following the crash, said: “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected.”

As condolences poured in from across the world, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said: “The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating. I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time.”

There were 53 British nationals on board the flight to London that crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad.

Shares of planemaker Boeing fell 8 per cent in premarket US trading on Thursday after an Air India aircraft with 242 people crashed minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad. Boeing’s shares were down about 8 per cent at $196.52 in premarket trading, according to news agency Reuters.

Condolences over the incident poured in cutting across political lines. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote on X, “Absolutely shocked to know about the devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat where several passengers and crew members were on board. It’s heart-wrenching to see the horrific visuals.”

He added: “Our heartfelt sympathies, thoughts and prayers with the families of the passengers, pilot and the crew. I urge Congress leaders and workers to provide all assistance and support to the victims and their loved ones.”

With details of British nationals being present in the flight that crashed near Ahmedabad, the British Embassy in India said: “We are aware that a flight from Ahmedabad to London has crashed near Ahmedabad airport. We are working with local authorities to urgently establish the facts and provide support. Our thoughts are with all those affected.”

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad has been shut till further notice. A team from the NDRF was also en route.

Reacting to the incident, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has already had a call over it with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said: “Pained beyond words by the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad. Disaster response forces have been quickly rushed to the crash site. Spoke with the Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, Home Minister Shri Harsh Sanghavi, and Commissioner of Police Ahmedabad to assess the situation.”

As details emerge, there were 169 Indians, 53 British nationals and one Canadian on board the aircraft. Air India has also set up a dedicated passenger hotline number, 1800 5691 444, to provide more information.

In case you are tuning in now, here’s what has happened so far

1. An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed into a residential neighbourhood near the city's airport shortly after takeoff on Thursday afternoon.

2. The aircraft, registered VT-ANB, was carrying 242 individuals, including passengers and crew members. The number of casualties has not yet been officially confirmed.

3. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft departed Ahmedabad at 1:39 pm local time and issued a Mayday call moments after liftoff. Subsequent communication attempts by air traffic control went unanswered.

4. The plane went down in the densely populated Meghani Nagar neighbourhood, just outside the perimeter of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Thick plumes of black smoke were visible for miles.

5. Airport emergency services were activated without delay. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and local firefighters were deployed, although smoke and fire hampered early rescue efforts.

6. Senior officials from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and DGCA were dispatched to the site. Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu is en route to oversee rescue and relief operations.

7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Naidu and directed that all necessary assistance be provided promptly. He is receiving regular updates on the situation.

8. Following the crash, all operations at Ahmedabad’s international airport were halted. Officials stated that the airport would remain closed until further notice.

9. The aircraft was piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had 8,200 flight hours, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who

had logged 1,100 hours. Both names were confirmed by the airline.

10. This marks the first recorded crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner globally since the model entered commercial service. The aircraft in question had been delivered to Air India in January 2014.

Reactions have poured in from across the world with the Dutch ambassador saying: “Deeply shocked by the news of the plane crash in #ahmedabad. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to the victims, their families, and all those affected by this tragedy.”

Moments after the Air India flight crashed near Ahmedabad airport, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote on X: “Deeply shocked to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad. Our prayers are with the passengers and their families.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks with Home Minister Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu following the crash and has asked them to go to Ahmedabad and ensure that all possible assistance is extended to those affected.

In an extended statement following the crash, Air India said: “With profound sorrow, I confirm that Air India flight, AI 171 operating Ahmedabad London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event. At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families. We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted.”

It added: “Further updates will be shared as we receive more verified information. An emergency centre has been activated and support team have been set up for families seeking information- N Chandrasekaran, Chairman Air India.”

Moments after an Air India Dreamliner jet crashed near the Ahmedabad airport, flight operations were suspended at the airport until further notice.

London’s Gatwick Airport, too, put out a statement, saying: “We can confirm that flight AI171 that crashed on departure from Ahmedabad Airport today was due to land at London Gatwick at 18:25.”

Three National Disaster Response Force teams, comprising 95 personnel, have been moved from Gandhinagar to the plane crash site. A total of three more teams are being moved from Vadodara.

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, too, expressed condolences: “I am deeply saddened by the incident of Air India passenger plane crash in Ahmedabad. I have instructed the officials to carry out immediate rescue and relief work and arrange for immediate treatment of the injured passengers on a war footing. I have also instructed to arrange for a green corridor to take the injured passengers for treatment and to ensure all arrangements for treatment in the hospital on priority basis. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also spoken to me and assured full cooperation...”

Moments after the crash, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, expressing shock and grief, wrote on X: “Stunned and profoundly shocked to know of the most tragic Air India plane crash at Ahmedabad today. It is a most sad news for all of us and I convey my condolences to victim families, even while we anxiously wait for survivors details and pray for survival of all.”

She added: “The crash during take-off of the London-bound plane has shaken and saddened me at my core. While we do not know exact figures, media reports indicate that there were 242 passengers in the plane. I am praying to God at this moment.”

Giving out details about the crash, DGCA, quoted by news agency ANI, said: “Captain Sumeet Sabharwal is an LTC with 8200 hours of experience. The copilot had 1100 hours of flying experience. As per ATC, the aircraft departed from Ahmadabad at 1339 IST (0809 UTC) from runway 23. It gave a MAYDAY Call to ATC, but thereafter, no response was given by the aircraft to the calls made by ATC. Aircraft immediately after departure from Runway 23, fell on the ground outside the airport perimeter. Heavy black smoke was seen coming from the accident site.”

Reacting to the incident, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, said: “Shocked and devastated to learn about the flight crash in Ahmedabad. We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation and have directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action. Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site...”

Following the crash, Air India, via a statement, said: “Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick, was involved in an incident today, 12 June 2025. At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest.”

Gujarat BJP Chief CR Paatil cancels his visit to Vadodara on Thursday evening to rush to Ahmedabad

The aircraft, a Boeing Dreamliner, took off around 1.47 pm, slightly delayed from schedule. Officials say it crashed 9 minutes after being given clearance for take-off.

The Air India Dreamliner aircraft that crashed outside the Ahmedabad airport had at least 195 people on board, besides the crew members.