Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited Ahmedabad Civil Hospital to personally meet Vishwashkumar Ramesh, the only person to survive the devastating Air India crash that occurred a day earlier. The accident claimed the lives of 241 passengers aboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight headed to London.
Ramesh, a British citizen of Indian origin, had been seated in row 11 by a left-side emerg
ency exit when the aircraft went down shortly after departing from Ahmedabad International Airport. According to airline officials,the ill-fated flight carried 169 Indian nationals, 53 from the UK, seven from Portugal, and one Canadian citizen.
Before his hospital visit, the Prime Minister assessed the wreckage at the crash site near Meghaninagar, where the plane slammed into a medical college campus. He also chaired a high-level review session with airport and rescue officials. Sharing images from his site visit on social media, Modi expressed his sorrow, calling the scene heartbreaking and extending condolences to the victims’ families.
He posted: “The magnitude of loss in Ahmedabad’s air tragedy is beyond words. My prayers are with the grieving families. Om Shanti.”
The PM was accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, MoS Murlidhar Mohol, and State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi.
The aircraft, flown by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal with First Officer Clive Kundar, crashed just minutes after takeoff. Air Traffic Control reported a Mayday distress signal before all communications were lost. Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising from the crash site, with officials confirming the plane was carrying about 125,000 liters of fuel at the time.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also visited the site and disclosed that the intensity of the fire made survival nearly impossible. DNA testing is underway to confirm victim identities, with nearly 1,000 samples collected so far.
In line with international aviation protocols, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a formal inquiry. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is preparing to send investigators to assist.
Meanwhile, Air India, owned by the Tata Group, has set up emergency hotlines and announced a compensation of $120,000 for each victim’s family.
