Asansol (West Bengal) [India], June 13: Trinamool Congress MP Shatrughan Sinha expressed deep sorrow over the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, calling the incident “shocking” and demanding a thorough investigation. The crash of Air India flight AI-171, bound for London Gatwick, claimed 241 lives, with only one survivor from the 242 people on board.
“I am speechless. This is one of the biggest plane crashes in recent times. The fact that both engines failed on such an advanced aircraft raises serious concerns. We must probe whether it was a maintenance lapse or engine failure,” said Sinha.
Digital Recorder Recovered from Debris
In a significant development, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has recovered a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) from the wreckage, which could provide crucial insights into the crash. Authorities continue their investigation into what caused the twin-engine Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 to go down minutes after takeoff.
PM Modi Visits Crash Site, Chairs High-Level Review Meeting
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Ahmedabad plane crash site on Friday and also met the lone survivor, British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh. Sharing images from the visit on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi wrote:
“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.”
PM Modi also chaired a review meeting at the airport with senior officials and ministers including Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, and Union MoS Murlidhar Mohol.
Home Minister Amit Shah: No Chance of Survival Due to Intense Fire
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, after meeting CM Patel and reviewing the situation, said the intensity of the crash fire—caused by over 125,000 litres of burning aviation fuel—left no chance of survival for those on board.
“The flames and heat from the burning fuel were so intense that it was impossible for anyone to survive,” Shah stated.
He added that DNA testing is underway to identify the victims. So far, around 1000 DNA tests have been conducted at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, with final confirmation of fatalities pending results.