Ahmedabad Plane Crash: PM Modi Visits Lone Survivor
Ahmedabad plane crash: In one of the worst air tragedies in recent memory, an Air India flight to London crashed just after taking off from Ahmedabad. It killed 265 people. The unfortunate Boeing 787 airplane had 242 people on-board. It included passengers and crew, when it crashed in a residential area near Meghani Nagar on Thursday afternoon. There was one survivor – Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, a British citizen from Leicester.
Prime Minister Visits Survivor in Hospital in Ahmedabad
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ahmedabad today to assess the incident. He talked to the one survivor of the crash. Ramesh was in seat 11A on the flight, sustained minor injuries, and is still being monitored. From his hospital bed Ramesh shared, “Thirty seconds after taking off, there was a big bang noise and the airplane went down, the whole thing was over in a second.”
The Prime Minister expressed tremendous regret over the event. He has assured that the family of victims will have all the assistance and compensation that they need. He commended the emergency teams for their quick action in managing the disaster site.
Rescue Missions and Recovery Efforts Completed
The efforts to rescue at the crash site are now done. Emergency responders worked tirelessly around the clock to recover bodies and collect flight information. They have recovered one of the two black boxes from the airplane. They were sent for fail safe analysis. It will be instrumental for official authorities to determine the actual causes of the accident.
Officials confirmed that the airplane crashed into an urban residential area and there are several fatalities on the ground in addition to the deceased on the aircraft, and officials are still confirming the total number of fatalities while verifying victims in the residences involved.
Distribution of Nationalities on Board
Air India sent out a statement that noted the following passenger break down:
- 169 Citizens of India
- 53 Citizens of the UK
- 7 Citizens of Portugal
- 1 Canadian
The airline and government officials are coordinating with international embassies to notify the next of kin and arrange for repatriation.
What Caused the Crash? Experts Weigh In
Experts remain unsettled during the investigation of an inexplicable and catastrophic failure. Initial reports show that the plane sent a ‘mayday’ message, a known international declaration of emergency, a few minutes after takeoff.
Aviation analyst Saurabh Bhatnagar speculated on a plausible cause of the accident concerning multiple bird strikes simultaneously damaging both engines. “At face value it appears to be a multi-bird strike with the loss of power from both engines,” he said during an interview with New Delhi Television.
However, aviation authorities have stated that it is premature to make any conclusions here. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is waiting for the full investigation to review the black box and cockpit voice recorder before issuing an official report.
A Nation in Mourning
This tragic event has affected the whole country and the Indian community abroad. Candlelight vigils are being held in several cities and worldwide leaders have paid their respects to the victims. Flags were flown at half-mast in their memory.
This tragedy has been termed one of the worst aviation accidents in India, resembling the accident on Air India Flight 855, which could have taken place near the coastline of Mumbai in 1978.
Recent News Updates and Safety Issues
This incident has also prompted renewed scrutiny of aviation safety in India, especially in relation to the growing bird population near city airports and its impact on flight routes. The DGCA is expected to conduct a detailed evaluation of flight operations at airports in proximity to high population density or high risk areas.
As statements of Air India issued this week to temporarily ground all planes in a certain fleet type while awaiting inspections and further safety review.
As the investigation unfolds the world watches on in unison while India mourns this unfathomable tragedy. The story of the only survivor is an exceptional source of hope amidst the destruction, one that could provide important information regarding what transpired during those awful five minutes after take-off.
