‘Stunned and saddened’: PM Modi on Ahmedabad air crash

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the air crash involving an Air India aircraft in Ahmedabad has left the country “stunned and saddened”.

“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,” the prime minister said in a post on X.

A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft operated by Air India crashed immediately after takeoff from Ahmedabad. There were 242 persons on board the aircraft consisting of 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew.

The aircraft was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal with First Officer Clive Kundar. Capt Sumeet Sabharwal had 8,200 hours of experience. The copilot had 1,100 hours of flying experience.

As per Ahmedabad ATC, Air India flight AI 171 departed from Ahmadabad at 1339 IST 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.

Immediately after departure from Runway 23, the aircraft crashed in a residential area.

Air India said there were 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals on board the aircraft. The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals, the airline said.

Commenting on the air crash, U.K. Prime Minister Kier Stramer 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.”

India's civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu, too, expressed shock following the devastating plane 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. My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families," he wrote in a post on X.

According to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, the crashed Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was built in December 2013. "We received the last signal from the aircraft at 13:38 local time (08:08 UTC), just seconds after take off, at an altitude of 625 feet," it said.

U.S. aerospace giant Boeing has also issued a statement. “We are aware of initial reports and are working to gather more information,” it said.