Amit Shah Visits Crash Site With Top Officials; Nation Mourns Massive Aviation Tragedy
Ahmedabad: In one of the most horrifying aviation disasters in India’s history, Air India flight AI-171 crashed near Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff on Thursday afternoon, claiming the lives of 241 people on board, including passengers and crew.
The catastrophe has stunned the nation.
"The plane crash in Ahmedabad has left us shocked. This is a heartbreaking incident beyond words. I am in constant touch with ministers and officials to provide necessary assistance to the victims," Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, reacting to the devastating incident.
The Tata-owned Air India aircraft was on its way to London with 230 passengers and 12 crew members, including two infants, when it lost contact with Air Traffic Control just minutes after takeoff. The flight reportedly suffered a serious engine malfunction, leading to a crash near Meghani Nagar, where the plane struck the BJ Medical College UG Hostel mess, resulting in massive destruction and a raging fireball visible for miles.
Amit Shah Rushes to Ground Zero, Leads Review with Top Brass
In a swift response, Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived at the crash site Thursday evening to assess the damage. He was joined by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Muralidhar Mohol, and Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi.
“The scene is heart-wrenching. All efforts are being taken to assist rescue teams and to begin a thorough investigation. We stand by the families in this time of unbearable grief,” Amit Shah said after surveying the wreckage and meeting officials on site.
Among the Dead: Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani and Flight Crew
The nation mourns the death of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was among the passengers on the ill-fated flight. His passing has sent shockwaves across the political spectrum.
Also killed were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal (with over 8,200 flying hours) and Co-Pilot Clive Kunder, a Mangaluru-origin officer with 1,100+ hours of experience. The dedicated flight crew included Sainita Chakraborty, Deepak Pathak, Roshni Songhare Rajendra, Manisha Thapa, and others.
Miraculously, one survivor, 40-year-old British-Indian Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, shared his harrowing experience:
"When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran."
He was seated on 11A, narrowly escaping death.
Airport Closed, DGCA Investigation Ordered
Operations at Ahmedabad Airport were suspended temporarily. A DGCA team, including the Director of Airworthiness, Assistant Director of Air Fitness, and a Flight Operations Inspector, has been dispatched to probe the cause of the crash.
Initial clues suggest a critical technical failure. Visuals from the crash site show complete devastation, twisted metal, burning debris, and mourners waiting for news of loved ones.
"We have launched a full-scale technical investigation. Nothing will be hidden. Accountability is non-negotiable," stated Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu.
No comments:
Post a Comment