Ahmedabad, Jun 12 (ANI): Security forces at the site where an Air India plane, B787 Aircraft VT-ANB, while operating flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, had crashed immediately after takeoff with 242 passengers onboard, in Ahmedabad on Thursday. (ANI Photo)
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 12 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that the devastating blaze caused by nearly 1.25 lakh litres of fuel left no chance for survival in the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. The crash, involving flight AI-171 bound for London, claimed the lives of nearly all passengers and crew on board. Only one survivor has been confirmed so far.
Expressing his deep condolences, Shah told the media that the official number of fatalities will be announced only after the completion of DNA testing, with approximately 1,000 tests to be conducted to identify victims.
“The plane carried almost 125,000 litres of fuel, and due to the high temperature, there was no chance of saving anyone. I visited the crash site,” Shah said. “In just 10 minutes, we received information about the incident. The Prime Minister was informed immediately, and relief operations were launched jointly by Union and state agencies.”
The Air India flight, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members when it crashed into a doctor’s hostel in the Meghaninagar area shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport around 1:30 PM IST.
Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals. Tragically, former Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP leader Vijay Rupani was also on board and has been confirmed dead. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid tribute to Rupani on X, remembering him as a grassroots leader devoted to his state’s development.
In a glimmer of hope, Shah mentioned the survival of one passenger, whom he personally visited at the hospital. “We received good news about one survivor. I met him at the hospital,” he added.
The Home Minister also confirmed that DNA samples from the families are being collected, including those of foreign nationals whose relatives have been informed and are en route to India. “The retrieval of the bodies is almost complete. The remains will be handed over after DNA identification,” Shah said.
He emphasized that the Gujarat government followed all disaster management protocols and that a comprehensive review meeting had been held with relevant authorities. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu has initiated a formal investigation.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has deployed 150 personnel, including teams from its Rapid Action Force and Group Centre Gandhinagar, to assist in the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts. The Gujarat government has also deployed three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, comprising 90 personnel.
To manage passenger traffic and aid affected families, Western Railway announced the operation of two Superfast Special trains between Ahmedabad and Delhi, and Ahmedabad and Mumbai.
In a statement, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran announced a compensation package of ₹1 crore for each family of the deceased. Tata Group, which owns Air India, also committed to covering the medical expenses of the injured and rebuilding the B J Medical hostel damaged in the crash.
According to officials, the aircraft was commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had 8,200 hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar, with 1,100 hours of experience. After taking off from Runway 23 at 1:39 PM IST, the aircraft issued a mayday call but subsequently went silent, failing to respond to further communications from Air Traffic Control.
The tragic crash has cast a pall of grief across the nation and prompted an urgent review of aviation safety and disaster preparedness protocols. (ANI)
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