(Image source from: x.com/narendramodi)
On Friday morning, authorities retrieved one deceased individual along with several body parts from the location in Ahmedabad where an Air India aircraft had crashed the previous afternoon. More than 200 DNA samples have been gathered to facilitate the identification of the deceased. After conducting post-mortems, five sets of remains were returned to their families. Concurrently, ongoing investigations are examining the potential factors that contributed to the Flight AI-171 disaster. The flight, which was en route from Ahmedabad to London with 242 passengers, went down near Ahmedabad airport shortly after departure, resulting in 241 fatalities aboard and additional casualties on the ground, as it struck a hostel mess associated with a medical college.
Investigators are currently exploring four primary hypotheses regarding the cause of the Air India crash, which include a possible bird strike, dual engine failure, fuel contamination, and excessive loading. They are also reviewing maintenance logs to check if the plane had overlooked any necessary repairs or scheduled upkeep. Both the flight data recorder and radar information are being meticulously analyzed. Testimonies from the sole survivor are proving invaluable. The survivor recounted that less than a minute after takeoff, it appeared the aircraft had lost engine power, indicating that some issue might have disrupted the engines' functionality. Following this, the plane accelerated, pitched forward, and ultimately crashed. The combination of technical data and eyewitness accounts from the survivor is critical to the investigation’s progress. Furthermore, accurately assessing the fuel load, the number of passengers, and baggage is vital, particularly in hot weather, where thin air could influence aircraft systems.
Visited the crash site in Ahmedabad today. The scene of devastation is saddening. Met officials and teams working tirelessly in the aftermath. Our thoughts remain with those who lost their loved ones in this unimaginable tragedy. pic.twitter.com/R7PPGGo6Lj
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 13, 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ahmedabad early this morning and went to the crash site. He later visited the civil hospital, where he met Ramesh Vishvakumar, the only survivor of the incident, along with individuals injured on the ground. The Prime Minister expressed his sentiments on X, stating, “Visited the crash site in Ahmedabad today. The devastation I witnessed is heartbreaking. I interacted with officials and teams who are diligently working in the aftermath. Our thoughts are with those mourning their loved ones in this unimaginable calamity."
