Air India Plane Crash: PM Modi Visits Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, Meets Injured Survivors

New Delhi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited Ahmedabad Civil Hospital to meet survivors of the tragic Air India plane crash that claimed 241 lives, including 12 crew members.

PM Modi flew into the city a day after the devastating incident and proceeded directly to the crash site, where he surveyed the wreckage and was briefed on the ongoing rescue and investigation efforts. He then visited the hospital to interact with the injured and medical staff treating them.

He was accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, and Union Minister C.R. Paatil.

The accident involved an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, which crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday afternoon. The aircraft went down in a residential area near BJ Medical College, killing nearly all on board—230 passengers, 10 crew members, and 2 pilots.

Remarkably, one person survived the crash. Officials identified the survivor as a British national of Indian origin who was seated in seat 11A. He is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.

The Prime Minister, who served as Gujarat’s Chief Minister for 12 years, had earlier expressed his grief on social media, stating: “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.”

Authorities have described the crash as one of the worst aviation disasters in India’s history. A thorough investigation has been launched, and a team of forensic experts is already at the crash site collecting evidence.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, who arrived at the scene on Thursday, confirmed that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will lead the probe, adhering to international aviation safety protocols outlined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

“The government is also forming a high-level committee comprising experts from various disciplines to examine the incident comprehensively and recommend steps to enhance aviation safety,” the minister said in a post on X.

The AAIB, under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, is India’s designated body for investigating serious air accidents and functions in alignment with ICAO standards.

Preliminary reports indicate the aircraft issued a distress signal moments before losing altitude. Investigators are now analyzing data from the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder—the aircraft’s black boxes—to reconstruct the final moments leading up to the crash.

With inputs from IANS