India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, recently visited the location of an Air India plane crash that resulted in the tragic loss of over 200 lives, marking the country's most severe civil aviation disaster in nearly thirty years.
The Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, stated that the government is initiating a comprehensive investigation to uncover the root causes of this incident. Air India has pledged full cooperation with the authorities in this process.
Video footage captured Modi surveying the wreckage of the Boeing 787-800 Dreamliner that crashed shortly after takeoff, along with damaged structures at a medical student compound. Expressing his sorrow, Modi described the scene as heartbreaking and extended his condolences to those affected by the tragedy.
Following the crash, Air India confirmed that all but one of the 230 passengers and 12 crew members onboard had perished. The flight was en route to London when it went down shortly after departing from Ahmedabad in Gujarat.
The passenger list included individuals from various nationalities, with the sole survivor identified as a British man of Indian descent. Unverified videos depicted the plane losing altitude post-takeoff before erupting into flames.
ANI, a news agency aligned with Modi's government, reported that the Prime Minister visited victims in the hospital, including the lone survivor, who recounted the harrowing experience of the crash.
Forensic teams worked through the night to examine the wreckage at BJ Medical College, where parts of the aircraft were scattered over a vast area. The crash also resulted in casualties among students and workers in the vicinity.
Labourers and residents near the site were among those who lost their lives in the tragic incident. The crash has dealt a significant blow to Air India, currently undergoing a restructuring process under Tata Group's ownership.
India's aviation sector, the third-largest globally, has experienced notable air disasters in the past, with the recent crash marking a somber addition to the country's aviation history.
Additionally, an Air India flight from Phuket to New Delhi made an emergency landing due to a bomb threat, highlighting the challenges faced by airlines amid heightened security concerns.
Source: Financial Times