Ahmedabad, June 15: In the aftermath of the tragic Air India Flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad, the Gujarat state administration has implemented measures to ease the burden on grieving families. Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Banchha Nidhi Pani announced that death certificates were issued directly at the hospital, eliminating the need for families to visit multiple government offices.
The fatal crash occurred on June 12, shortly after the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off from Ahmedabad International Airport. The aircraft went down in a residential area of Meghaninagar, impacting the BJ Medical College complex and surrounding buildings.
Of the 242 people on board—230 passengers and 12 crew members—241 perished, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The lone survivor, identified as Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, is currently undergoing treatment for his injuries.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is leading the probe, has successfully recovered the aircraft’s Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR), commonly referred to as the black box, from the rooftop of a building at the crash site.
“The black box had to be recovered, and fortunately, the tail section of the aircraft was intact, lodged in the first impacted building,” said Commissioner Pani. “The AAIB requested cranes, engineers, and laborers, and the box was successfully retrieved.”
Commissioner Pani detailed the extensive emergency response:
101 fire vehicles
Over 100 ambulances, including 35 from private trusts
46 earthmovers, including JCBs, excavators, and cranes
A coordinated lighting setup with over 100 LED floodlights powered by 5 DG sets to enable night operations
Emergency teams faced challenges such as the aircraft’s wing obstructing ambulance access, which led to the decision to remove the wing and create a green corridor for quicker rescue and medical response.
The AAIB has launched a full-scale investigation with support from over 40 Gujarat government staff assisting the Ministry of Civil Aviation teams on-site. The recovered black box is expected to provide crucial data that could explain the circumstances leading to the crash.
Meanwhile, Air India announced an interim compensation of ₹25 lakh each to the families of the deceased and to the lone survivor, in addition to the previously announced ₹1 crore support from Tata Sons to help address immediate financial needs.
(With agency inputs)
