Air India plane crash: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat’s Ahmedabad on Friday following the Air India plane crash, ANI reported.
The Ahmedabad-London Air India plane carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed into a medical college complex in Ahmedabad minutes after takeoff on Thursday, killing almost everyone. Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani was among the dead.
Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed shock and grief over the crash of an Air India plane carrying 242 people in Ahmedabad.
“The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words,” Modi said.
“In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected,” he said in a post on X.
There was no official count of those killed even hours after the Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI171) crashed in the city civil hospital and BJ Medical College near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport and burst into a ball of fire.
According to Air India, of the 230 passengers, 169 were Indians, 53 British, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. The other 12 were two pilots and 10 crew members.
According to an Air India statement, the Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating as Flight AI-171, departed from Ahmedabad at 1:38 pm IST with 242 people on board, including crew.
“The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals. The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals. We have also set up a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 to provide more information,” the airline said in a statement.
(This is a developing story)