Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited the site of the catastrophic Air India Flight 171 crash near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, where 241 lives were lost in one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters.
Accompanied by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, PM Modi assessed the damage and ongoing relief operations amid heavy security presence. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Minister CR Paatil welcomed the Prime Minister upon his arrival in the city.
The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after its departure from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. According to Air India, of the 242 people onboard—including 230 passengers and 12 crew members—241 have been confirmed dead. The sole survivor, a British national of Indian origin, remains hospitalized in critical condition.
The passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national.
Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the site on Thursday, stated that there was virtually no chance of survival due to the intense heat generated by the burning of approximately 125,000 litres of aviation fuel. “The temperature was so high that no one could have survived. DNA testing is being conducted for accurate identification, with around 1,000 DNA samples collected so far,” Shah told reporters.
Shah also detailed the swift multi-agency response: “Within 10 minutes of the incident, the Prime Minister and key departments were informed. Immediate joint rescue operations were launched by state and central teams.”
The flight crew was led by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a senior Line Training Captain with 8,200 flight hours, assisted by First Officer Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 flying hours. After departing Runway 23 at 13:39 IST, the plane issued a Mayday call but failed to respond to further communication before crashing outside the airport perimeter into a resident doctors’ hostel.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a formal probe into the crash in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. A multi-disciplinary committee will also be formed to review aviation safety protocols, Civil Aviation Minister Naidu confirmed.
Additionally, the US-based National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will dispatch experts to assist Indian investigators in unraveling the cause of the crash.
The Tata Group, which owns Air India, announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹1 crore for the families of each victim. Dedicated helplines have also been set up for affected families: 1800 5691 444 (India) and +91 8062779200 (international).