Ahmedabad, June 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reviewed the tragic plane crash involving an Air India flight bound for London and directed Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu to ensure all necessary support is extended to the victims and their families.
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According to official sources, the Prime Minister spoke with both Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to assess the situation and instructed them to rush to Ahmedabad to oversee rescue and relief operations. PM Modi also emphasized the need for constant updates and swift, coordinated efforts on the ground.
The Civil Aviation Ministry confirmed that Minister Naidu is en route to Ahmedabad to monitor the situation personally. Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah has also spoken to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and assured full central assistance. All concerned agencies are currently on high alert, with emergency services deployed to manage the aftermath of the crash.
The incident occurred early Thursday when Air India flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff in the Meghaninagar area near Ahmedabad airport. The Boeing 787 aircraft, registered as VT-ANB, was carrying 242 people, including two pilots and ten cabin crew members.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft took off from runway 23 at 1:39 PM IST (08:09 UTC) and issued a mayday call shortly thereafter. Communication was lost soon after the distress signal, and the aircraft crashed just outside the airport perimeter. Thick black smoke was seen rising from the crash site.
The flight was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, an LTC-rated pilot with over 8,200 flight hours. First Officer Clive Kundar, with 1,100 hours of flying experience, was also on board.
A DGCA team has been dispatched to the site for investigation, and further details are awaited as rescue and recovery efforts continue.
#AhmedabadPlaneCrash : A tragic plane crash has occurred in Ahmedabad‘s Meghani Nagar area. pic.twitter.com/JOov5SRJr7
— Prameya English (@PrameyaEnglish) June 12, 2025
