In a deeply emotional moment for the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ahmedabad on Friday to visit the crash site where an Air India flight burst into flames just moments after take-off, killing 265 people and leaving behind a trail of horror, wreckage, and unanswered questions.
The flight, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, barely made it past the city skyline before it came crashing down into the Meghaninagar residential area, slamming into a medical college hostel and setting off a massive fireball. Videos taken by residents show the aircraft struggling to gain altitude before it nosedived into the building, triggering one of the worst aviation tragedies India has ever seen.
Wearing a grim expression, PM Modi stood quietly amid the wreckage on Friday morning, surrounded by charred debris and emergency responders still combing through the ashes. He stayed at the site for around 20 minutes, getting a full briefing from local and national authorities. The air was heavy — not just with smoke, but with grief.
After the site visit, the Prime Minister headed straight to a local hospital, where several of the injured are being treated. Sources say he spoke with survivors and medical staff, listening closely and offering support. The only known survivor from the crash — a young British national — is still in critical condition.
Modi wasn’t alone on this visit. Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu, who has been coordinating the government’s response, was by his side. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi, and BJP state chief CR Patil also joined him at Ahmedabad airport earlier in the day.
In a heartbreaking detail that added to the tragedy, one of the victims was Vijay Rupani, the former Gujarat Chief Minister. Modi is scheduled to meet Anjanliben Rupani, his widow, later today to personally offer his condolences.
Meanwhile, Minister Naidu continues to oversee the entire operation — from rescue efforts, to recovery, to investigations. He has been holding high-level meetings with Air India, aviation regulators, and disaster response teams, urging speed, transparency, and compassion in every step of the process.
The doomed aircraft — a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, flying as Flight AI171 — carried 242 passengers and crew when it took off shortly after noon on Thursday. Mere minutes later, the aircraft began to lose altitude. Panic spread through the cabin. And then, the unthinkable happened.
Residents in Meghaninagar described the sound as "a thunderclap followed by screams and flames." The plane hit the ground with brutal force, instantly setting the hostel on fire and shaking the nearby buildings. Only one person survived.
Today, the country is mourning not just the loss of lives, but the brutal reminder that even in a world of high-tech aviation, disaster can strike without warning. Questions are now being raised about what went wrong: Was it mechanical failure? A missed warning sign? Or something far worse?
But for now, the focus remains on healing, recovery, and honoring the victims. Prime Minister Modi’s visit, while brief, sent a strong message — that the highest levels of government are watching closely and that no family will be left alone in their grief.
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"Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the Ahmedabad Air India crash site where 265 lives were lost. The London-bound flight exploded shortly after take-off. Get the latest updates on rescue efforts, survivor status, and government response to one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters."